Why the elephant has tiny eyes

Author: Priya Kurian

Format: paperback

Age: Ages 4 to 6

Quick Overview

 The first chaang, the first elephant, once had big eyes,
Which the animals thought looked beautiful and wise.
Then, along came a bird, a wagtail, and…
Told in verse, this folktale from the Tai Phake people of India’s northeast is gentle and funny. It is one among many animal stories they tell children about why and how something came to be—why the sun comes out when the cock crows, how the tiger got its stripes and how the bulbul and the monkey ended up with red bottoms! Priya Kuriyan’s eye for detail and flair for animating characters re-create the region’s lush landscape and capture the folktale’s endearing quality with warmth and humour.