{"product_id":"my-incredible-india-isbn-9781536225013","title":"My Incredible India","description":"\u003cb\u003eTour the diverse regions of an incredible country in a vivid, joyful, and visually stunning introduction to the people, places, flora, and fauna of India.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWatch elephants bathing from a houseboat in Kerala, marvel at ancient cave paintings in Bhimbetka, wander Delhi’s bustling streets, and ride a train through the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. In spread after colorful spread, India’s breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and cultural splendor leap to life on the page, framed by the story of a little girl named Thara and her grandmother. In a carved wooden trunk, Nanijee keeps mementos collected from all over India, each with a story to tell. Readers can follow along page by page with Thara or dip in at any point to discover something new about India’s many and varied regions—from vibrant religious festivals, food, and crafts to sports and wildlife to Bollywood and a hidden sculpture garden filled with life-size figures. A warm, welcoming tone and exquisitely patterned endpapers help make this an intimate keepsake to pore over and treasure.   A companion book to the award-winning \u003ci\u003eAfrica\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Amazing Africa\u003c\/i\u003e by Atinuke and Mouni Feddag, this is narrative nonfiction at its finest.This is a lavishly illustrated celebration of India. . . . The back matter includes an extensive time line, brief essays on Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian flag, a helpful index for both text and picture captions, and resources for additional information. Both browsers and researchers will be hooked by this irresistible, joyous survey.\u003cbr\u003e—Booklist (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThose unfamiliar with India will undoubtedly find much to discover, such as the ancient cave paintings in the Bhimbetka caves, while those more familiar will expand their knowledge further. The oral method of having Nanijee and Thara look at and explore subjects, including the foods, religious festivals, and wildlife of India, is an appealing and approachable format. This gem of a book is perfect for anyone wishing to learn more about India; it should find a place on the shelves of most libraries and classrooms.\u003cbr\u003e—School Library Journal (starred review)\u003cb\u003eJasbinder Bilan\u003c\/b\u003e's debut novel \u003ci\u003eAsha and the Spirit Bird \u003c\/i\u003ewon the prestigious Costa Children’s Book Award and \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e\/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition. She has an MA in creative writing from Bath Spa University. She lives in England with her husband, two sons, and an adorable dog named Enzo.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNina Chakrabarti \u003c\/b\u003estudied illustration at Central Saint Martin’s College and the Royal College of Art, London. She uses line drawing to explore her love of the decorative arts, inspired by her past in Kolkata, India, where she grew up, and the exuberance of London, where she lived for many years. She is the author of the best-selling \u003ci\u003eMy Wonderful World of Fashion\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003ewhich has been translated into ten languages.\u003cb\u003eWelcome to India\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eINDIA IS JAM-PACKED WITH DIFFERENT LANDSCAPES. There are twenty-eight states and eight union territories, and each region is unique. There are scorching deserts, sacred rivers, and precious forests inhabited by endangered animals such as lions and tigers. To the north lie the snow-shrouded Himalayas, which run for around 1,500 miles (2,500 kilometers), and in the clear blue seas beyond India’s shores, there are amazing islands with pristine beaches. It’s a huge country, with a huge, welcoming heart.\u003cbr\u003e   The history of India stretches five thousand years into the past. It had some of the very first sophisticated cities in the world. If you go to India today, there are still ancient temples filled with sculptures and paintings, as well as wonderful historic palaces sitting like jewels in beautiful lakes. \u003cbr\u003e   There are also vibrant cities with modern skylines, such as New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Like many cities around the world, India’s cities are full of opposites: there are people who drive expensive cars and can spend all the money they like, and there are people who are forced to live on the streets. The buildings are home to both world-famous high-tech businesses and indoor bazaars and markets laden with handmade objects created using techniques that have been used for thousands of years. \u003cbr\u003e   One of the very special things about India is that it is a country of strong belief and faith. Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism were all born in India, and religions like Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, the Baha’i Faith, and Judaism were brought to the country from elsewhere. \u003cbr\u003e   India now has the biggest population of Hindus in the entire world: over 900 million. Hinduism is one of the world’s most ancient religions. Hindus believe in the circle of life and reincarnation, which means that after a person’s death, their spirit does not disappear but passes into the body of another being and continues to live. This means that caring for wildlife is a big part of life for Hindus, because they never know who may have reincarnated in the creatures around them. \u003cbr\u003e   The most important texts in Hinduism are written in Sanskrit, India’s ancient classical language. Sanskrit can be traced back to 1700–1200 BCE. Scholars think that all the European languages come from it; look how similar these words are: \u003ci\u003ematr\u003c\/i\u003e (Sanskrit), \u003ci\u003emater\u003c\/i\u003e (Latin), and \u003ci\u003emother\u003c\/i\u003e (English).\u003cbr\u003e   To make sure that everyone understands each other, Hindi and English are the languages used all over India in newspapers and on the main TV stations. Here’s how you say hello in a few of India’s different languages:  \u003cbr\u003e Urdu: As-Salaam alaikum\u003cbr\u003e Hindi: Namaste\u003cbr\u003e Punjabi: Sat sri akal\u003cbr\u003e Tamil: Vanakkam\u003cbr\u003e English: Hi there!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout This Book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ALL THROUGH HER LIFE, Thara’s nanijee has collected special objects from around India and kept them in a beautiful wooden trunk. Each object reminds her of a wonderful place she has visited.\u003cbr\u003e   This book will take you on a journey around India—you can read it all at once or dip into it when you feel like visiting a particular place. Every time you choose a page, it will be as though you are choosing an object from Nanijee’s trunk yourself.\u003cbr\u003e   India is a land full of amazing things to discover. Things that will shake you up, take your breath away, and make you as curious as a monkey!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Journey Around India\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Right at the top of my nanijee’s house, I have my own cozy room for sleepovers. My bed is layered high with a soft patterned rajai quilt, and Nanijee has hung an orange sari over it to make a canopy. In a corner of the room sits an old trunk made from sheesham wood, with beautiful carvings of elephants and tigers all over it. \u003cbr\u003e   Nanijee lived in India most of her life and has traveled all around the country. Wherever she went, she collected special objects as a reminder of each place—and all those objects are inside this wonderful trunk. \u003cbr\u003e   Friday nights are exciting nights: that’s when I sleep over at Nanijee’s.  She makes me spiced milky chai sprinkled with cinnamon. I take a small sip and snuggle into the folds of her chunni. She smiles and creaks open the trunk. It smells sweet, like the heart of a tree. \u003cbr\u003e She takes out one object and tells me all about it—which state it’s from, why she loves it so much, and what makes it unique.\u003cbr\u003e   Each Friday night, I hurry up the stairs to my room, butterflies zipping through my stomach. I run my fingers along the carvings of the trunk and imagine all the things lying inside. All the things I’m going to see.\u003cbr\u003e   I wonder what Nanijee will show me tonight . . .","brand":"Candlewick","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300349006053,"sku":"NP9781536225013","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781536225013.jpg?v=1767733305","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/my-incredible-india-isbn-9781536225013","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}