Reviews
Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship: Stories from India by Uma Krishnaswamy, Chitra Soundar
livrad's review against another edition
5.0
Fun and clever tales set in the long-ago court of King Bheema, featuring his son Prince Veera and his best friend, Suku, a commoner. This was a good family read.
kindred_reader's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
4.0
Charming, fun, and entertaining. If your kid says they want to be a prince/princess, this is the book for them. It encourages critical-thinking, a willingness to not know the answer immediately, and the importance of friendship. Veera and Suku are still typical boys who like to play and compete and do nothing by the river some days but they understand the importance of paying attention to the world they are living in.
Soundar does a fantastic job of incorporating Indian culture seamlessly into this fun story while also calling attention to things that may be new to readers with lines as simple as "This was a legend they had" (95).
The boys focus on how to help people in the long term and how to teach lessons to those who need a reminder that this world is bigger than them. They even see the importance of the crows and sparrows around them that are part of the town.
Veera's relationship with his father was wonderful to watch as the story progressed. There is a mutual learning between them that helps Veera see the importance of being a good leader and helps the King understand that power has its place.
Overall, a wonderful read with beautiful illustrations about two boys who just wanted to play kings for a few days and the great things they accomplished in the meantime.
Soundar does a fantastic job of incorporating Indian culture seamlessly into this fun story while also calling attention to things that may be new to readers with lines as simple as "This was a legend they had" (95).
The boys focus on how to help people in the long term and how to teach lessons to those who need a reminder that this world is bigger than them. They even see the importance of the crows and sparrows around them that are part of the town.
Veera's relationship with his father was wonderful to watch as the story progressed. There is a mutual learning between them that helps Veera see the importance of being a good leader and helps the King understand that power has its place.
Overall, a wonderful read with beautiful illustrations about two boys who just wanted to play kings for a few days and the great things they accomplished in the meantime.
readwithriahh's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this for book bingo for a Discord server I am a part of and honestly I thought it was really sweet. I think it shared some great lessons about thinking outside of the box and being fair. Overall, it was a really cute read and I think it's a perfect book for younger kids. The writing was super easy to read and the messages in each of the short stories were very clear and clever. I likely wouldn't have picked up this book if it wasn't for bingo but I'm so glad it was recommended to me.
libraryrobin's review against another edition
4.0
Delightful stories of a prince and his wise friend who resolve disagreements in a court when the king is unavailable.
antimonium's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Cute little lessons where the young hero outsmarts everyone.
stephanieridiculous's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Not too much to say about this. It's cute, it's clever, it's quick. The primary lesson seems to be outwit your adversaries, and while that's not always going to work I do appreciate emphasizing that over other methods of "winning" that's common in stories about young boys. It's a wholesome collection of short stories about a young prince, his friend, and the happenings in the kingdom.
princessfabulous's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Cute parables for a quick, fun read.
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
I love reading folktales from other countries and so when this one came my way, I was very excited. And what a pleasure it is to read. Originally published as two separate books with four stores each under the titles A Dollop of Ghee and a Pot of Wisdom and A Jar of Pickles and a Pinch of Justice, they have been combined in this volume of eight stories altogether.
The stories center on Prince Veera, the son of King Breema, who ruled over his small Indian kingdom with fairness, kindness, and wisdom, and Suku, the son of a farmer who had won a scholarship to study with Prince Veera. Naturally, the two 10-year-old boys have become the best of friends.
As a kind and just king, the people in his kingdom knew they could come to King Breema with their problems and disputes and he would always find a way to help them. One day, when the King falls ill, Prince Veera and Suku ask if they may hold court that day instead of sending the people away. The first few cases they hear are simple and easy for the two boys to resolve, but as the day goes by they become more difficult. Once case involves a maker of sweet treats who wants to charge the man who stands outside his shop smelling the delicious scent of his sugary, buttery treats but who never buys anything. Another case involved a man who sold his well to another man, but now wants to charge the buyer for the water in the well.
Prince Veera and Suku both enjoy running the court whenever King Breema allows it, and the King is quite impressed with their collective wisdom. But when the Prince Veera's strict, elderly granduncle Raja Apoorva comes to visit, he is not impressed and thinks it is wrong from his young grandnephew to hold court, and especially with Suku, the lowly son of a farmer. When granduncle, who doesn't like crows one bit, puts their talent to the test challenging them to count the number of crows in the kingdom, have Prince Veera and Suku been outsmarted or can they outsmart the old uncle?
The eight stories included in Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship are basically light and easy, told in a very straightforward way and each has a simple moral that never feels preachy. The relationship between Prince Veera and Suku is one of affectionate companionship and respect, and although Suku is the son of a farmer, class isn't an issue here. Prince Veera loves to visit Suku's welcoming home as much as Suku loves going to the palace. This is a lesson we could all use.
Although there are not any notes about these stories and where they came from, they still have an authentically Indian quality to them culturally, and that is supported by the wonderful black and white spot illustrations by Uma Krishnaswamy.
Young readers will certainly enjoy these trickster tales and seeing how the two young friends deal with the often cunning disputes brought to them. Additionally, all the stories stand alone, making this a useful book for some great read alouds.
Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship is a solid collection of folktales that are sure to please young readers who are already enjoying chapter books.
This book is recommended for readers age 7+
This book was gratefully received by me from the publisher, Candlewick Press
The stories center on Prince Veera, the son of King Breema, who ruled over his small Indian kingdom with fairness, kindness, and wisdom, and Suku, the son of a farmer who had won a scholarship to study with Prince Veera. Naturally, the two 10-year-old boys have become the best of friends.
As a kind and just king, the people in his kingdom knew they could come to King Breema with their problems and disputes and he would always find a way to help them. One day, when the King falls ill, Prince Veera and Suku ask if they may hold court that day instead of sending the people away. The first few cases they hear are simple and easy for the two boys to resolve, but as the day goes by they become more difficult. Once case involves a maker of sweet treats who wants to charge the man who stands outside his shop smelling the delicious scent of his sugary, buttery treats but who never buys anything. Another case involved a man who sold his well to another man, but now wants to charge the buyer for the water in the well.
Prince Veera and Suku both enjoy running the court whenever King Breema allows it, and the King is quite impressed with their collective wisdom. But when the Prince Veera's strict, elderly granduncle Raja Apoorva comes to visit, he is not impressed and thinks it is wrong from his young grandnephew to hold court, and especially with Suku, the lowly son of a farmer. When granduncle, who doesn't like crows one bit, puts their talent to the test challenging them to count the number of crows in the kingdom, have Prince Veera and Suku been outsmarted or can they outsmart the old uncle?
The eight stories included in Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship are basically light and easy, told in a very straightforward way and each has a simple moral that never feels preachy. The relationship between Prince Veera and Suku is one of affectionate companionship and respect, and although Suku is the son of a farmer, class isn't an issue here. Prince Veera loves to visit Suku's welcoming home as much as Suku loves going to the palace. This is a lesson we could all use.
Although there are not any notes about these stories and where they came from, they still have an authentically Indian quality to them culturally, and that is supported by the wonderful black and white spot illustrations by Uma Krishnaswamy.
Young readers will certainly enjoy these trickster tales and seeing how the two young friends deal with the often cunning disputes brought to them. Additionally, all the stories stand alone, making this a useful book for some great read alouds.
Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship is a solid collection of folktales that are sure to please young readers who are already enjoying chapter books.
This book is recommended for readers age 7+
This book was gratefully received by me from the publisher, Candlewick Press
jillcd's review against another edition
4.0
A fun book with a creative and clever prince told in a series of short stories. A delightful quick read. Grades 2-3 and up
ghostly_monstera's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Charming, fun, and entertaining. If your kid says they want to be a prince/princess, this is the book for them. It encourages critical-thinking, a willingness to not know the answer immediately, and the importance of friendship. Veera and Suku are still typical boys who like to play and compete and do nothing by the river some days but they understand the importance of paying attention to the world they are living in.
Soundar does a fantastic job of incorporating Indian culture seamlessly into this fun story while also calling attention to things that may be new to readers with lines as simple as "This was a legend they had" (95).
The boys focus on how to help people in the long term and how to teach lessons to those who need a reminder that this world is bigger than them. They even see the importance of the crows and sparrows around them that are part of the town.
Veera's relationship with his father was wonderful to watch as the story progressed. There is a mutual learning between them that helps Veera see the importance of being a good leader and helps the King understand that power has its place.
Overall, a wonderful read with beautiful illustrations about two boys who just wanted to play kings for a few days and the great things they accomplished in the meantime.
Soundar does a fantastic job of incorporating Indian culture seamlessly into this fun story while also calling attention to things that may be new to readers with lines as simple as "This was a legend they had" (95).
The boys focus on how to help people in the long term and how to teach lessons to those who need a reminder that this world is bigger than them. They even see the importance of the crows and sparrows around them that are part of the town.
Veera's relationship with his father was wonderful to watch as the story progressed. There is a mutual learning between them that helps Veera see the importance of being a good leader and helps the King understand that power has its place.
Overall, a wonderful read with beautiful illustrations about two boys who just wanted to play kings for a few days and the great things they accomplished in the meantime.