About the Author:
Originally from Datasooti village in Rajasthan, India, Meena artist Sunita was taught to paint by her mother and elder sister. She now lives in the city of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan with her husband and two children. Meena Art is one of the most ancient tribal art forms in India. Passed on from mother to daughter through the generations, it is always the women of the Meena tribe who paint in white onto the brown mud walls and floors of the village.
A highly original and creative voice in contemporary Indian publishing, and the founder of Tara Books, Gita Wolf is known for her interest in exploring and experimenting with the form of the book. She has written over twenty books for children and adults, many of which have been translated into multiple languages and recognized internationally.
From School Library Journal:
PreS-Gr 2—In this adaptation of a traditional oral Rajasthani trickster tale, a wily jackal, who is too lazy to go hunting himself, challenges his best friend to catch 12 fish. The friend, an unsuspecting crane, accomplishes the task quite easily, but is shocked and chagrined when the jackal gobbles them all up and then unexpectedly swallows her, too. When a passing tortoise protests, the jackal sings "Ta ta tortoise," making a snack of the poor reptile. The hungry canine travels through the forest and proceeds to eat every animal who crosses his path, even an elephant. At last, feeling stuffed from his unconventional meal, he lumbers down to the river for a drink of water, where his stomach bursts and everyone tumbles out, rejoicing. The narrative unfolds in cumulative rhyme and is accompanied by distinctive geometric finger paintings created in the ancient Mandna style passed down from mother to daughter. The illustrations are silk screen, printed by hand in black and white. On each page, the jackal grows a little plumper as the crowd of intricately designed animals in his stomach increases. An author's note chronicles the history of the Mandna art form and the genesis of this carefully crafted picture book. Pair this title with another cautionary story, Monkey: a Trickster Tale from India by Gerald McDermott (Houghton Harcourt, 2011).—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.