Mythology Books For Kids — Discover Why Kids Should Read About Indian Mythology!
Living in the 21st-century modern world, we often wonder, ‘Is it necessary for our kids to read about Indian mythology?’ The answer is a yes. Why? Because India is a potpourri of diverse cultures, legends & mythologies. Different stories from Indian mythology have travelled down generations over the years, keeping our culture intact and carrying forward our valuable traditions and values. As kids grow up, they should read mythology books and know more about Indian myths, for multiple reasons.
WHY KIDS SHOULD READ ABOUT MYTHOLOGY?
- Mythologies develop values.
Many Indian mythology books teach kids about good & evil, right & wrong through stories where the evil kings lose to righteous people and humanity prevails at the end of the day. When kids read mythology books from an early age, they imbibe these values and learn how to conquer negativity with positive qualities.
2. Mythologies introduce them to various cultures, religions, and social customs.
We happily celebrate Diwali and Gurpurab, Eid and Christmas, but do we know why people celebrate different festivals? Reading about mythology gives us an insight into different religions, cultures, and rituals observed in India. Moreover, it also helps kids understand how our society evolves and functions.
3. Mythologies spark curiosity and imagination.
Curiosity awakens imagination & sharpens children’s intellect. It leads young minds to explore the world and helps them understand inconceivable situations. It’s an important trait that helps children excel at academics, sports, and performing arts. The Indian mythology repertoire narrates tales of mystical creatures, flying chariots, gods living among humans, and fierce wars that spark curiosity and lead children to think.
If we wish for our kids to grow up into creative thinkers and visionaries, here are some mythology books that we should give them to read.
MYTHOLOGY BOOKS FOR CHILDREN — 5 RECOMMENDATIONS
- The Boys Who Fought & The Girl Who Chose: Twin Tales By Devdutt Patnaik
Any talk about Indian mythology is incomplete without the mention of renowned mythology book author Devdutt Patnaik.
We often wonder, “Would Ramayana happen if Sita had the choice to raise her voice in a patriarchal society?” Devdutt Patnaik’s The Girl Who Choose provides an answer by putting Sita at the epicentre and allowing her the power of making decisions. The book is a captivating narrative of Sita’s choices and how they changed the course of Valmiki’s Ramayana.
Likewise, The boys who fought is a retelling of Ved Vyas’s Mahabharata that gives us an important message: Caring for the needy and the meek is our dharma. It narrates how five orphaned brothers (the Pandavas) fought against their hundred cousins (the Kauravas), who tricked & humiliated them, stole their kingdom, burned their house, and abused their wife. The book beautifully explains why it was a war for dharma, not for revenge.
2. Roopa Pai’s The Gita For Children
How do we teach kids about values & pious thoughts in a society that applauds status and where people act for incentives? By introducing them to Gita: a book that includes practical life lessons, which stand true in all times. Famous children’s author Roopa Pai elucidates the complex teachings of Gita through a simple dialogue between Lord Krishna and prince Arjuna in her book. A must-have Indian mythology book for all age groups, Pai’s Gita has fun trivia and interesting takeaways for children.
3. It’s Ramadan, Curious George By Hena Khan & H.A. Ray
This wonderful book by H.A. Rey & Hena Khan gives us plenty of reasons to cherish Eid. It narrates the journey of curious George, who accompanies his friend Kareem to participate in various customs during the month of Ramadan, like fasting, sharing meals with friends & neighbours, and giving alms to the poor. The experience helps little George understand the importance of celebrating Eid.
4. Heroes In Training Olympian Collection By Joan Holub
From Hades’s Helm of Darkness to Poseidon’s Sea of Fury and Zeus’s Thunderbolt of Doom, Holub’s “Heroes in Training” series is a collection of famous Greek mythology books for children. The Olympian collection imagines powerful Greek gods as children and narrates their exploits in a fun way- including all the mishaps and c
raziness. It’s a fun read for the fans of Greek mythology.
IS READING MYTHOLOGY BOOKS ENOUGH FOR CHILDREN?
No, it’s not. Stories evolve as children mature. The book meant for a 3-year-old is not the same as the mythology book for a 13-year-old. Authors deliver the knowledge of Indian mythology in chunks, giving children age-appropriate information and retaining their curiosity about the topic. Therefore, we should keep rejuvenating children’s interest in mythological stories by introducing them to mythology books for different age groups.
In addition to reading mythology books or narrating mythology stories, we can include famous legends and characters in our everyday discussions to help kids understand their significance and underlined lessons. For e.g., while discussing gender inequality, social prejudices, or crimes, we can relate an ancient mythology (like the abduction of Sita or the tyrannical reign of Hiranyakashipu) to a similar real-life incident and discuss various perspectives related to it. It’s a good way to improve their communication and debate skills.
Also, children should listen to different viewpoints and understand that there’s no right or wrong in a discussion. The interpretation of an incident is subject to the perspectives of different characters. Mythology stories are good resources that help children understand diversity and difference of viewpoints.
Mythological fiction has recently grown quite popular among readers for its interesting takeaways and imaginative elements. Also, every author has a different interpretation of the same incident, which makes it more alluring. By introducing different international and Indian mythology books, we can develop kids’ vocabulary, comprehension, strong values, and the ability to make connections between incidents.
Have you read any of the mythology books mentioned above? Let us know which one is your favourite. Happy reading!