The White Elephant and Other Tales from India

This treasury of fantastic folklore presents eleven traditional Indian stories, beautifully illustrated in full color. Many of the timeless tales of wise and foolish creatures offer intriguing regional variations on Aesop's fables: "The White Elephant" resembles "Androcles and the Lion," "The Timid Little Rabbit" recalls "Chicken Little," and "The Grain of Corn" compares to "The Old Woman and the Pig." The wily little Jackal makes occasional appearances, using his wits to overcome more powerful animals in "The Alligator and the Jackal" and "Singh Rajah and the Cunning Little Jackals." "The Kingdom of Mouseland," "The Bold Blackbird," and "The Kids and the Tiger" also recount triumphs of weak but cunning individuals over strong and brutish opponents. A conniving old woman and her greedy husband deceive one of their animal neighbors in "The Bear's Bad Bargain"; a humble laundryman becomes a hero in spite of himself in "The Man Who Rode a Tiger"; and Jackal returns to rescue a nobleman whose good intentions go astray in "The Brahmin and the Tiger."