Jeeva Raghunath gets invited to storytelling festivals across the world. A popular performance storyteller, she also conducts workshops on storytelling, drama and language skills. Jeeva represented India twice at the Asian Children’s Festival organised by the National Library Board of Singapore and was part of an Indo-Swedish children’s literature project. She writes stories in Tamil and translates children’s books from English into Tamil. Jeeva’s way with words brings great exuberance to Tulika’s Gadagada Gudugudu, Malli, and Gasa Gasa Para Para. She lives in Chennai.
It’s the day of the local market in Malli’s village. Cotton candy, peanut balls, stick ice, rose soda – there’s so much for Malli and her friends to try! But some of them don’t have enough money. Then, Malli has an idea… Friendship and sharing are at the heart of this third book in the Malli series, with pictures that take you around a village in Tamil...
Where is Thangi, Thambi asks the blackbeetle, the butterfly... Nobody seems to know. Where can she be? This beginner reader is part of the Thumb Thumb Books series, created around the common thumbprint and featuring Thumb Thumb Thangi and Thumb Thumb Thambi. Short sentences, bold type and vibrant visuals make entry into reading easy and exciting. At the...
Thambi takes a piece of paper, tears it into a square, pastes two sticks on it, ties a string and then flies it high in the sky. It's a kite! This beginner reader is part of the Thumb Thumb Books series, created around the common thumbprint and featuring Thumb Thumb Thangi and Thumb Thumb Thambi. Short sentences, bold type and vibrant visuals make entry...
Gadagada gudugudu... the marble rolls from one child's hand to another in exchange each time for something exciting. The story moves in a straightforward childlike way as, one after the other, it reintroduces simple street games endlessly popular with children. Trundling alongside is the rhythmic refrain that fascinatingly echoes the circular movement of...
Malli gave her uncle’s family many things when they came to her village. Now, she is coming to the city. Will they also give her something? A music-loving, terrace-gardening grandmother puts creative hats on her grandchildren as they think of what to give their favourite cousin. This sequel to the ever-popular Malli comes wrapped in a vibrant palette, and...
Mister Crocodile gets very angry when five little monkeys tease him from a tree. Aaaaaaaa... gobak! What happens then? An old favourite is infused with rhythm, repetition and bilingual flavour, to create an unforgettable reading experience. Bold, jaunty pictures with eye-catching expressions bear the touch of a skilled animator.
Yak yak yak... the tortoise loves to talk – and learns the hard way that keeping his mouth shut is sometimes very necessary! The clipped narrative style pares the original fable from the Panchatantra down to its essence with dramatic effect in this bilingual retelling. It is offset by decorative, detailed illustrations in the style of kalamkari textiles...
Malli's uncle and his family from the city have come to her village. She wants to take some gifts for them but has only one rupee. However, as she sets off on her way, her little basket slowly fills up… This story is about the joy of simple surprises. The exuberant illustrations carry the feel of rural Tamil Nadu with bright colours and strong lines....
A well-known storyteller compiles her own favourite stories, which she has grown up hearing and loving. Tongue-in-cheek asides, the traditional storyteller's tool, add perspective. At the end of each tale is a note that makes fascinating connections with similar stories from other cultures.
