Review: Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship: Stories from India by Chitra Soundar

Synopsis: Can Prince Veera and his best friend outsmart the king’s trickiest subjects? Inspired by traditional Indian folktales, these stories are sure to delight. Being a wise and just ruler is no easy task. That’s what Prince Veera discovers when he and his best friend, Suku, are given the opportunity to preside over the court of his father, King Bheema. Some of the subjects’ complaints are easily addressed, but others are much more challenging. How should they handle the case of the greedy merchant who wishes to charge people for enjoying the smells of his sweets? And can they prove that an innocent man cannot possibly spread bad luck? Will Prince Veera and Suku be able to settle the dispute between a man and his neighbor to whom he sells a well — but not the water in it? Or solve the mystery of the jewels that have turned into pickles? Illustrated throughout by Uma Krishnaswamy, these eight original tales by Chitra Soundar task Veera and Suku with outwitting the kingdom’s greediest, wiliest subjects. Are the two clever boys up to the challenge? (from the online description)

Review: Told in a similar style to A Thousand and One Arabian Nights and Aesop’s Fables, this charming collection follows Prince Veera and his friend Suka, as they solve problems around the kingdom of Veera’s Father. They encounter everything from greedy merchants to evil Uncles, and each time they must use their wits to solve the riddle.

Told in a simply style, these stories have no great depth and tend to be moralistic – meaning, the good and evil are always clear, and the right way is easy to see. The two boys face no great obstacles and are often supported by adults (other than the “bad” guy in the story) who approve and assist with whatever scheme they devise. After the first few stories, this grows a bit tiresome. The stories lack real depth or challenge.

However, one of the more charming aspects is the frequent mention of Indian foods and customs. For Western readers, this is a delightful flavor, and encourages exploration and appreciation of another culture.

Over all, this collection, while shallow, is still fun, and will delight younger readers (ages 4-6) without boring parents. 

Note: I received this free through LibraryThing's Early Review Program, in exchange for my fair and honest opinion

Bookmarks: 3 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN:978-1-5362-0067-6
Year Published: 2019
Date Finished: 10-6-2018
Pages: 179