An enchanted flute in which a girl is hidden, a lofty tree on a hill in Shillong so tall that it connects heaven and earth, a bed that soars into the sky and takes its occupant anywhere their heart desires, the miraculous floating bridge that allows Lord Rama’s army to cross the ocean to Lanka, peacock feathers that summon a handsome prince, delicious mangoes that cure ailments and disease—these and more magical objects from myth and legend are held within the pages of this book.

Imaginatively retold by Meena Arora Nayak and beautifully illustrated by Priya Kuriyan, The Girl in the Magical Flute: Stories from Myths and Folk Tales of India gives classic folk tales and lore from India (and beyond) a contemporary flavour. Sourced from classical religious texts such as the Ramayana, the Quran, and the Bible, and from oral traditions across India, including those of the Ho, Munda, and Khasi tribes, the nineteen stories included in this collection will delight children of every age, persuasion, and sensibility.