Panchatantra

Hello, little friend. I am a book full of secrets and fun. I am the Panchatantra. Before you could read words, you could hear my whispers. In my pages, monkeys are clever and lions are brave. Turtles can be smarter than tricky jackals. My animals talk and play, just like you. They have big adventures and learn little lessons. I am a treasure chest, and my treasures are stories. I shine with tales of friendship and fun. Open my pages and come play with my animal friends. We have so many stories to share with you.

A very, very long time ago, around the 3rd century BCE, a kind teacher lived in a warm land called India. His name was Vishnu Sharma. He had a big job. He had to teach three young princes how to be good kings. But oh, the princes did not want to read boring books. They wanted to play. So, Vishnu Sharma made me. He filled me with stories about talking animals. A monkey and a crocodile taught the princes how to pick good friends. A big lion and a tiny mouse showed them that even small friends are a big help. The princes loved my stories. They laughed and learned all the important things to be good and clever kings.

My stories were so much fun that everyone wanted to share them. They traveled on big ships and with friendly people across deserts and oceans. My animal friends learned to speak new languages all over the world. For more than two thousand years, I have been making new friends, just like you. You can still find my stories in your picture books and favorite cartoons. I am here to remind you that learning is fun, and being kind is the best treasure of all. So when you hear a story about a talking animal, you are listening to a little piece of me.