Big Cats  •  Seymour Simon NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 40 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A full-color introduction to the life of big cats around the world, including the tiger, lion, leopard, puma, cheetah, jaguar, and snow leopard. A brief text accompanies the photos, which concentrate on how the animals behave in the wild. Intended for children ages 4-8. (BST46, $6.99)
Buddha  •  Demi RELIGION •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 48 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Beautiful, intricately detailed, full-color illustrations make this life of the Buddha an excellent choice for children. Demi tells the story of the sheltered upbringing of Indian prince Siddhartha, his first encounter with death and human suffering, and his subsequent search for enlightenment. Intended for children age 7-10. (ASA17, $21.95)
Buddha Stories  •  Demi RELIGION •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Intended for ages 4 to 8, this book tells 10 of the author's favorite "jakatas," or moral tales of the Buddha. She has sumptuously illustrated the volume in gold printed on deep, dark blue (in the tradition of an ancient Buddhist text). Gorgeous (at least in very good light!), and a compelling introduction to Buddhism for children. (ASA16, $20.00)
Elephant (Eyewitness Books)  •  Ian Redmond  •  Dave King NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 63 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A vivid introduction to the elephant, in the colorful Eyewitness visual style. With plenty of background on the natural history of the elephant, including description of its behavior and social habits. Geared for children ages 9-12. (BST44, $15.99)
Eyewitness: India  •  Abha Narain Lamba CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 64 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) India comes to life in this visually innovative, fact-filled survey of geography, history and culture. With pithy text and hundreds of large color illustrations, covering a range of topics including the Mughal empire, the British Raj, Independence and the modern Indian democracy. (IDA212, $16.00)
Homeless Bird  •  Gloria Whelan LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A National Book Award winner in the children's category, this lovely book is especially noteworthy for its strong sense of place. Set mostly in the holy cities of Benares and Vrindavan along the Ganges River, it's the story of a 13-year-old girl who must fend for herself after her intended in-laws cast her out of their home. The title is taken from a poem by Rabindranath Tagore. Ages 8 to 12. (IDA201, $5.99)
Jahanara, Princess of Princesses  •  Kathryn Lasky LITERATURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 192 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Kathryn Lasky imagines the life and diary of a Mughal princess in 1627 India in this installment in Scholastic's "Royal Diaries" series. Our diarist Jahanara's parents are none other than Shah Jahan and Mumtaz -- builder and occupant of the Taj Mahal, respectively. The book is designed to feel like a real princess's diary, with gold-embossed pages and a sturdy binding. (IDA213, $10.95)
Picture the World, Children's Art Around the Globe  •  Tracy V. Spates ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 68 PAGES • FAMILY A unique book, written by an art teacher who traveled the world in search of culturally significant art by children. This full-color book, illustrated with artworks and documentary photographs, highlights eight nations: Japan, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Russia, Kenya, the United States and Ecuador. Each chapter includes a cultural overview of the featured country, photographs of schoolchildren, descriptions of traditional handicrafts and a hands-on art activity inspired by the country's artistic tradition. It's a globally aware, multicultural book for children ages 6 and up. (WLD31, $24.95)
Rama and Sita  •  David Weitzman LITERATURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A retelling of the Hindu myth, in which the god Rama and the Monkey King must rescue Rama's kidnapped queen. Illustrated with images of Balinese shadow puppets, it's a lovely storybook for ages 4 to 8. (BAL21, $19.95)
Shiva's Fire  •  Suzanne Fisher Staples LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS A young adult novel set in southern India and steeped in Hindu custom, culture and religious belief. Parvati, the appealing 12-year-old heroine, is a classical dancer so accomplished that whe suspects that Shiva, as god of the dance, has chosen her to serve him. (IDA200, $6.99)
The Story of Divali  •  Jatinder Nath Verma  •  Nilesh Mistry CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 40 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A retelling of the birth of Rama and meeting of Rama and Sita, as recorded in the Ramayana, for kids about age 8. It's nicely illustrated. (IDA220, $16.99)
Traveling Man, The Journey of Ibn Battuta, 1325-1354  •  James Rumford TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 40 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) It's high time someone turned Ibn Battuta's travels into the stuff of a children's book, for if ever a journey could captivate young readers, Ibn Battuta's is it. James Rumford's full-color paintings beautifully illustrate this impressionistic chronicle of a trip throughout the medieval Muslim world (including much of Africa, the Middle East, India, China and Malaysia), and Rumford also thoughtfully includes a map. Geared for ages 9-12. (MDE65, $16.00)