Story guides
Each guide retells one of our stories in full, explains what it is really about, and links to the video.
The Tortoise and the Hare: What Pride, Patience and Persistence Teach Children
A parent and teacher guide to the tortoise and hare race: the story, the moment the hare loses, and questions that help children talk about pride and perseverance.
Tenali Rama and the Brinjal Theft: A Clever Escape and a Fair Question
A guide to the Tenali Rama brinjal story: how the dream argument works, what makes it funny, and the honest question about cleverness and truth to ask children.
Shravan Kumar and the Sound Arrow: A Guide to Duty, Haste and Regret
A guide to the Shravan Kumar story from the Ramayana: a devoted son, a hasty arrow and a curse. Includes how to discuss it with children.
Samudra Manthan Explained: Why the Poison Came Before the Nectar
A guide to the Samudra Manthan story: the churning of the ocean, Shiva as Neelkanth, the treasures, Mohini and Rahu. With ideas for talking to children.
Prahlad and Narasimha Story Guide: Devotion, Ego and the Clever Boon
A guide to the story of Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu and Narasimha: the five-part boon, the trials, Holika, the pillar, and how to discuss faith and courage with children.
The Old Vulture and the Cat: A Hard Folk Tale About Trust and Hasty Blame
A careful guide to the old vulture and cat folk tale: what happens, the two lessons about trust and hasty judgement, and how to discuss its sad ending with children.
Why the Lion Spared the Mouse: A Parent's Guide to a Fable of Kindness
A guide to the lion and mouse fable: what happens, why the mercy matters, and how to talk with children about kindness, size and friendship.
Putana and Baby Krishna: A Story Guide to Disguise, Trust and Grace
Why does Putana come to Gokul in disguise, and why is she honoured at the end? A guide to the Putana Vadh story, its meaning and how to discuss it with children.
Krishna and Govardhan Story Guide: Gratitude, Humility and Shelter
A guide to the Govardhan Parvat story: why Krishna asked Vrindavan to honour the hill, how Indra's storm was met, and how to talk about gratitude and pride with kids.
Krishna's Birth Story Guide: A Prison Night, a Basket and a River
A parent's guide to the birth of Krishna: the prophecy, the prison, Vasudev's night crossing of the Yamuna, and how to talk about courage and hope with children.
Khud Par Vishwas: What the Mother Who Lifted a Car Teaches About Belief
A guide to the Hindi moral story Khud Par Vishwas: a mother, a trapped child and the strength she never knew she had, with questions to ask children.
Kaliya Daman Story Guide: Pride, Poison and the Gift of Forgiveness
A guide to the Kaliya Daman story: Krishna, the poisoned Yamuna and the five-hooded serpent, plus what the ending teaches and how to discuss it with children.
Sour Grapes Explained: Teaching Children Honesty About Failure and the Courage to Ask
The fox and the grapes retold from a Hindi version, with the meaning of sour grapes, the gardener's surprise ending, and ways to discuss excuses and asking for help.
Eklavya and the Thumb: A Guide to a Story Families Still Debate
A careful guide to the Eklavya story from the Mahabharata: devotion, practice and the guru dakshina. Includes questions for talking with children.
Dhruva and the Pole Star: What a Hurt Child Learns From Steady Faith
A parent and teacher guide to the story of Dhruva, the boy who turned an insult into devotion and became the Pole Star. Includes questions to ask children.
The Four Sights: Why One Chariot Ride Changed Prince Siddhartha
A parent and teacher guide to the Four Sights story: what Prince Siddhartha saw, what his charioteer said, and how to talk about it with children.
Birbal's Journey to Heaven: How a Plot Turned Against Its Authors
A guide to the Akbar and Birbal story of the journey to heaven: the plot, the tunnel, the barber's beard and how to discuss patience and forgiveness with children.
Baby Hanuman and the Sun: How a Child's Mistake Became a Gift of Boons
A guide to the story of baby Hanuman who tried to eat the sun: what happens, what it teaches, and how parents can discuss it with children.
Angulimala and the Broken Leaves: What the Story Teaches About Change
A guide to the Angulimala story for parents and teachers: the bandit, the calm Buddha, the leaves that cannot be rejoined, and how to discuss it with children.