Rama and the Demon King

This is an easy to understand book that tells the story of Rama and how he defeats the evil king of all demons, Ravana. This is a story shared in many schools as children learn about Diwali and Hinduism - because of this, I'm familiar with a few versions of the story, and find that this particular version is well detailed and easy to follow. This story is detailed, but not over complicated; Rama and his wife Sita are banished to a forest by his evil stepmother. They kill some demons as they settle and build themselves a life, this angers Ravana who tricks Rama and then kidnaps Sita. Rama, with the help of some others, then rescue Sita and kill Ravana. They then return home to India where Rama becomes king. The text is accompanied by colourful but simple illustrations that help convey the story. As a stand alone story, I'm not sure that it's the most interesting one, but as a way of sharing a story from another culture it's accessible and enjoyable. Picture book / Ages 5+ / Reviewed by Lizi Coombs, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 3+