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 | Kali and the Rat Snake
Author: Whitaker, Zai
Illustrator: Natarajan, Srividya
Country of Origin: India 
Ages: 5 - 9
Themes: School, Friendship, Global Awareness, India, Self-Esteem
Hardcover $15.95
[Click for Play Pages]
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Kali's father is a snake catcher - the best in the village. Kali knows that is really something to be proud of, but at school he sometimes gets embarrassed. The other children seem to think there is something very strange about having a snake catcher for a father and eating things like fried termites for a snack. Plus, Kali is the teacher's pet. How will he ever make friends?
"Energetic color illustrations by Srividya Natarajan pepper this delightful children’s story from Zai Whitaker about accepting differences and learning to appreciate the talents in oneself and others. Highly recommended." - Children's Bookwatch
"...ideal for teaching children about acceptance. The sense of belonging and finding one’s identity is a story that is hard to make relatable to children. This one does so without preaching." - Toy Directory
"A great book about friendship and being careful not to judge others." - Kids Bookshelf
"The text is smoothly written, with lots of cultural details. The story moves at a good pace, with excellent use of text that leaves readers anticipating what will happen when each page is turned. Natarajan's stylized illustrations are a mixture of smaller pencil drawings and luscious larger paintings that seem to be done on silk. The endpapers resemble a beautiful batik fabric. Everything works together for an evocative presentation. This book has much to offer children learning about other cultures." - School Library Journal
"A wonderful book that teaches children that our differences can actually be strengths." - Suite 101
"What Kali faces in the classroom...is universal...it's a nice twist, with Kali being not only proud of who he is and where he comes from, but also having the whole school celebrate it." - A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy
"...a feel-good story for everyone." - Superha's Speculation
"It's a great book because it's about snake catching and that's the kind of stuff that I like." - Andrew Oglesby, Age 7, CNN.com (MP3 audio file)
"...nice themes about people being unique, and about how one's own special talents can have a place in the world. The book includes a short glossary of Indian terms (food, money, etc), and offers a window into a culture that will be unfamiliar to most American readers." - Jen Robinson's Book Page
"This story is funny and well-written with meaningful insights into friendship, diversity, and bravery" - Kids Literati
"...a fun execution of the common themes - "difference" and "acceptance." ... 'Words to Discover' section is a plus." - Bernadette M., Sacopee Valley High School
"Teaching kids how to deal with peer pressure is only one of the important messages that...Zai Whitaker presents. Images are truly unique and bring a level of cultural awareness to youthful readers." - Book Ideas
"...a beautiful and well-written book which is a solid contribution to children’s cultural literature." - Indian Life & Style
"There is so much to learn from this simple picture book that it should be read in schools everywhere! There's even a glossary located in the front of the book." - Newton's Book News
HARDCOVER ISBN: 978-1-933605-10-4
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