The Peaceable Forest: India's Tale of Kindness to Animals - Hardcover

Ely, Kosa

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1608871150 ISBN 13: 9781608871155

Publisher: Mandala Publishing, 2012

Synopsis

“Once,” says the old man to the animals, “a hunter lived in this forest. Your grandparents lived in fear of him. The twang of his bow sent them running. Then something happened to change that forever . . . ” In this ancient parable from India, a forest-dwelling hunter learns that cruelty has consequences and that compassion has rewards. When the hunter meets the wise man Narada, “Do unto others as they would do unto you” takes on a very concrete meaning as the sage leads the hunter on an imagined journey in which the hunter becomes the hunted. When the hunter realizes how his actions affect other living things, he has a change of heart and begins to live in peace with the animals he once pursued. Kosa Ely adapts this traditional Indian tale into an inviting narrative that presents the universal golden rule in a new and appealing way. Anna Johansson’s richly detailed illustrations evoke the animal kingdom and enchanted forests with fine lines and luminous colors. The Peaceable Forest is the ideal picture book for inspiring young readers to respect life in all its forms.

About this title

About the Author

Kosa Ely grew up in a family of artists in the coastal towns of California, writing and painting from a young age. After graduating from Laguna Beach High School, Kosa’s English and art studies took her around the world, exploring storytelling and folk arts in eighteen countries. From the rainforests of Peru to villages in South India to remote areas of Australia, wherever she traveled she found herself surrounded by children, hearing their stories and sharing her own.

ANNA JOHANSSON is a self-taught watercolor artist from Sweden. Her artwork is inspired by the mystical yoga tradition of ancient India. Her previous work includes The Peaceable Forest. She lives in Florida with her husband. When she is not creating art, s

From School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-A retelling of an ancient Vedic tale. The rather didactic text starts with a kind old man living in the forest who calls the animals together and tells them the story of a hunter who lived in the same forest many years earlier and loved to hunt and kill for fun. A holy man finds three animals the hunter wounded and teaches him the error of his ways, pointing out the pain and suffering that he has caused these creatures. In the end, the repentant man reveals that he is the hunter. The delicately colored and detailed illustrations on oversize pages are wonderful in their depiction of the flora and fauna of India (as attested to by an endnote), but are not specifically identified, which is regrettable. The large spreads are for the most part crowded and confusing, and it is hard to distinguish the central action without close examination. The lovely birds on the cover are the best art of all, and they are obscured by the paper cover. Although well meaning, the book's message is heavy-handed and the text plodding.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Mandala Publishing
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1608871150
• ISBN 13: 9781608871155
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Johansson Anna