Ramayana, kingdoms and timeless tales of love - Books for this weekend

New Delhi: Dive into the epic Ramayana by learning about it in rhymes. Also, wade through a charmingly illustrated retelling of the epic. Read the story of six teenagers who have to survive many dangers to find secrets of a strange key, and bury yourself in a tantalising collection of timeless tales.

The IANS bookshelf has some really interesting tales from different ages to offer this weekend.

1. Ramayana in Rhyme; Author: Ananya Mittal and Kairavi Bharat Ram; Publisher: Scholastic; Pages: 35; Price: Rs 250

Follow the adventures of Sita and the brothers in a rhyme. It's a modern retelling of a classic tale, cross your fingers and hope that Rama and Lakshman won't fail. To rescue Rama's wife from an evil mister, they went on a journey through forests galore with allies and more enemies.

With a monkey army by his side, Rama sets off to rescue his wife. It isn't easy, many things come their way. But they manage to be positive even when the times are tough. So let's delve into the sands of time and learn about the Ramayana in rhyme.

2. The Girl Who Chose; Author: Devdutt Pattanaik; Publisher: Puffin; Pages: 113; Price: Rs 199

Two thousand years ago, the poet-sage Valmiki wrote the Ramayana. It is the tale of Rama, the sun-prince of Ayodhya, who is obliged to follow family rules and so makes no choices. And of Ravana, the king of Lanka, who does not respect anybody's rules or other people's choices.

Over the centuries, hundreds have retold the tale, in different languages, adding new twists and turns. But few have noticed that the tale always depends on the five choices made by Sita. The author brings to you this charmingly illustrated retelling of the Ramayana that is sure to empower and entertain a new generation of readers.

3. The Undersea Kingdom; Author: Timeri N. Murari; Publisher: Scholastic; Pages: 302; Price: Rs 250

Having discovered the first part of the key that will send the evil kingdom of Gondwana back down to the bottom of the sea, six teenagers in the story have to find the other five parts. Who has them and where, and in which time and space? The clues are in their medallions that they must decipher. The evil empress Cremelle is in pursuit to stop them.

Why is she afraid of their leader Axxiss? Who is the creator of the clones of teenagers, determined to kill them? Who started the revolution against the empress in the undersea kingdom?

Read the story of these six who are growing closer to each other and have to survive many dangers to find secrets of the strange key.

4. Tales of Love and Adventure; Author: Devika Rangachari; Publisher: Scholastic; Pages: 143; Price: Rs 250

Does Samyukta get to marry Pritviraj whom her father detests? Can Savitri liberate Satyavan from the curse of an untimely death? Do Malati and Madhava flout the king's wishes to be with each other?

Here is a fine collection of some of the most endearing romances from India's past, spanning love in varied forms and laced with intrigue and adventure. Culled from historical sources, literary texts and legends, the tales span the length and breadth of India from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and from Rajasthan to Bengal.

A tantalising collection of timeless tales by award-winning writer and historian Devika Rangachari.