The Grateful Mongoose - Panchatantra E-Book

Welcome to THE GRATEFUL MONGOOSE!

The illustrated retelling of the legendary Panchatantra tale.

A Classic Panchatantra Retelling | For ages toddler to 10.

This is the story of a loyal mongoose who protects a family's home and their little baby with all its might. But when a massive misunderstanding happens at the front door, a split-second decision changes everything. It is a fast-paced, deeply emotional story that shows the incredible loyalty of animals and delivers a timeless lesson on why we should never act in anger or haste.

Parents, this book is an excellent gateway to talking with your kids about trust, making careful choices, and thinking before reacting.

The E-Book can be accessed for free via the hyperlink given below:

To view the E-Book click here.

Pre-and-Post Reading Discussion Starters

1. The Loyalty Value: The mongoose risked everything to protect the baby in the cradle. Why do you think animals can be so incredibly loyal to the humans who take care of them? Do you have an animal friend who makes you feel safe?

2. The Danger of Haste: The owner of the house made a massive mistake because she reacted the exact second she saw blood, without checking inside first. Can you think of a time when you reacted too fast out of anger or fear and realized later that you were mistaken?

3. Pausing to Think: If the mother had taken just three deep breaths before reacting at the door, how would the story have ended differently? What can we do in our everyday life to help ourselves pause when we feel suddenly angry or scared?

4. The Snake Encounter: The mongoose had to face a dangerous snake completely on its own to save its friend. What does true bravery mean to you, and does being brave mean you aren't allowed to feel scared?

5. The Final Lesson: This story has a very serious ending compared to other fables. Why do you think traditional stories use sad or serious twists to teach us important lessons instead of always having a happy ending?

P.S.: If you prefer visual and audio content, we've got a Talking Animated Picture Book version of the same book that can be accessed via the video below, thank you!

Talking Animated Picture Book - The Grateful Mongoose - FUN WITH STORIES! - Panchatantra Retelling.

We’ve started a Pinterest page!

 

Hello everyone,

FUN WITH STORIES! has now officially stepped into Pinterest as well.

Since stories, ideas, artwork, animations, and creative concepts deserve a place beyond just videos and posts, we decided to expand a little further into the visual side of creativity too.

You can now explore our Pinterest page for updates, creative posts, visuals, story-related content, and more as the journey of FUN WITH STORIES! continues to grow gradually across different platforms.

And to save your precious scrolling energy, here’s the page directly:

pinterest.com/funwithstories

Thank you once again for supporting this growing creative journey from the very beginning.

More stories, ideas, and animated adventures ahead.

Regards,
Shanmukha | FUN WITH STORIES!

Click the following to view them:

Website    YouTube Channel   Pinterest Page

Ramayana: The Epic Series

Introduction to Ramayana: The Epic Series

Greetings, readers.

One of the greatest stories ever told has finally arrived on the FUN WITH STORIES! YouTube channel.

The Ramayana is not merely an ancient tale locked inside history books or mythology discussions. It is a story that has travelled across generations for thousands of years — through voices, scriptures, art, theatre, devotion, and memory itself. And even today, its characters, conflicts, emotions, and philosophies continue to remain relevant in ways that are honestly fascinating.

With that thought, I am excited to begin Ramayana: The Epic Series - an animated storytelling journey exploring this timeless epic in a visual and engaging format.

This series is not intended to be just a simple narration of events. The aim is to gradually explore the world of Ramayana beyond surface-level storytelling - the characters, the decisions they make, the moral dilemmas they face, the emotions behind their actions, and the larger ideas hidden beneath the narrative itself.

Because Ramayana is far more than a battle between Ram and Ravan.

It is about dharma.
About sacrifice.
About exile.
About loyalty.
About ego.
About leadership.
About choices and consequences.

And perhaps that is why the epic still survives while countless kingdoms vanished into history.

Through animation, storytelling, visuals, narration, and discussion, this series attempts to bring the epic closer to modern audiences while still preserving the depth and cultural richness that make Ramayana extraordinary.

This is only the beginning of the journey.

Many important characters, events, kingdoms, emotions, and turning points still lie ahead. From Ayodhya to Lanka, from devotion to war, from wisdom to destruction, the story unfolds gradually, chapter by chapter.

If you enjoy mythology, storytelling, philosophy, history, or simply powerful narratives, I hope this series becomes a meaningful experience for you.

Feel free to share your thoughts, interpretations, and perspectives along the journey. After all, epics survive because generations continue discussing them.

And now, the journey begins.

Happy watching.

Shanmukha
FUN WITH STORIES!

Introductory EPISODE

Now on YouTube!

Introducing Our New Blogs!

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW BLOGS!

We are officially expanding the "FUN WITH STORIES!" network! If you have been following our main journey over on this blog, I want to say a big 'Thank you' to you for staying with us.

To make it even easier to track specific sagas, we have launched dedicated spaces for individual epics alongside our visual media. Here is the complete roadmap of where you can find our content right now:

📜 Dedicated Epic Blogs

The Epic Mahabharata: theepicmahabharata.blogspot.com

Srimad Bhagavatam: epicbhagavatam.blogspot.com

The Epic Ramayana: theepicramayana.blogspot.com 

YouTube Channel (Animated Stories!)

Head over to our video channel to experience our stories in full visual picture mode: youtube.com/@curiousherald 

Experimental Sandbox Website 

We are also testing out a new layout experiment here for those interested in checking it out: storyvista.mydurable.com 

Our main home base continues to run strong, and these new branches will let us dive even deeper into these massive epics. Head over to the links, give us some views, and we'll keep writing and creating more content!

© 2021 FUN WITH STORIES!

The Clever Fox - PicBook@FWS

                                                            PicBook@FWS

Welcome to THE CLEVER FOX!

Think you know the classic story of the clever fox? Think again! This time, an old favorite is brought to life in a brand-new, completely interactive E-book filled with vibrant pictures. Instead of just reading along, you get to be part of the adventure.

An Interactive Fable authored by Shanmukha | For ages toddler to 10.

Follow the journey of the craftiest animal in the woods as they use quick wit and clever thinking to outsmart the competition. It’s a fast, fun, and visually engaging story that proves why intelligence and sharp thinking are always better than brute strength.

Parents, this interactive version is a fantastic way to read together, letting your little ones make choices and see where the story takes them!

The E-Book can be accessed absolutely free of cost via the hyperlink given below:

Click here to view the e-book.

🗣️ Pre-and-Post Reading Discussion Starters for Parents & Kids

Use these fun questions to chat about the story together:

1. The Wit Test: Foxes are famous in stories for being incredibly clever. If you were an animal in the forest trying to outsmart a bigger, stronger animal, what would your superpower be?

2. Brain vs. Brawn: This story shows that being smart is often much more useful than just being strong. Can you think of a time when using your brain helped you solve a problem that physical strength couldn't fix?

3. Picture Clues: Look closely at the pictures throughout the book. Before reading the words on the page, what clues do the characters' expressions give you about what they are planning next?

4. The Interactive Choice: Since this book lets you interact with the story, did you try out a choice that led to a bad outcome first just to see what would happen? What did that choice teach you about the fox's real strategy?

5. The Final Moral: What do you think is the ultimate lesson the other animals learned after interacting with the clever fox today?

E-Book now an animated video too, out on YouTube!

James & Robin - Picture E-Book

 Welcome to JAMES AND ROBIN!

Stories are available on web, but you never own a copy... No problem, James & Robin is now an E-Book tailored for free of cost!

Get ready to jump into a brand-new, completely original adventure where you control what happens next! Welcome to James and Robin, a fully interactive visual E-book filled with pictures, pathways, and choices.

An Interactive Adventure E-Book authored by Shanmukha | For ages toddler to 10.

Follow the journey of James and Robin as they navigate twists, turns, and choices. Every decision you make helps them move forward through the story. Will you make the right choice, or will a wrong turn lead to a surprising outcome?

Parents, this interactive story is an incredibly fun way to read together with your kids, letting them take the wheel, make choices, and see where the adventure leads!

The E-Book can be accessed via the hyperlink given below:

Click here to view the e-book.

Pre-and-Post Reading Discussion

1. The Choice Pathway: Since this book lets you choose what James and Robin do next, did you try a choice that led to a tricky situation just to see what would happen? What did that path teach you?

2. Teamwork: James and Robin have to get through this journey together. If you and your best friend were stuck in an adventure story, how would you divide the work to make sure you both made the right decisions?

3. Picture Details: Look at the illustrations closely as you make your choices. Did the pictures give you any subtle hints about which choice might be the safest or the most exciting?

4. Altering the Plot: If you could write a completely new choice or a hidden third option into one of the pages for James and Robin, what wild path would you add to their story?

5. The Final Outcome: Did you manage to guide James and Robin safely to the best possible ending on your first try, or did it take a few attempts to find the right way?

P.S.

The E-Book is now available as a Talking Animated Picture Book too, now on YouTube! 

 

James & Robin | Talking Picture Book | FUN WITH STORIES!

                                                

We can beat this virus together!

 Measures to Stay Protected from Covid-19

Hello everyone,

The world is passing through an unusual and difficult period because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Something invisible managed to pause schools, roads, cities, businesses, travel, and everyday life itself. Suddenly, words like quarantine, sanitization, masks, immunity, and social distancing became part of daily conversations across the globe.

In times like these, awareness becomes just as important as medicine.

Through this video, I wanted to share some simple yet important precautions that all of us can follow to stay safer and healthier during the pandemic. These are not complicated scientific solutions, but basic protective habits which can make a significant difference when followed responsibly.

The video mainly focuses on three important areas:

Basic Protective Measures

Simple daily precautions that everyone should practice regularly:

• Washing hands properly and frequently

• Disinfecting commonly used surfaces

• Wearing masks while stepping outside

• Maintaining social distancing and avoiding unnecessary contact

Major Safety Measures

Important precautions to follow in serious situations:

• Consulting a doctor when symptoms appear

• Quarantining at home when necessary

• Using gloves and protective equipment carefully

• Maintaining proper protective barriers and hygiene

Food Safety Measures

Food hygiene also plays an important role during such times:

• Washing hands before handling food

• Consuming freshly cooked and properly heated food

• Maintaining healthy eating habits to support immunity

• Avoiding spoiled or poorly stored food

• Keeping food containers properly closed and protected

The pandemic has reminded humanity of something very important - health should never be taken for granted.

While doctors, healthcare workers, scientists, and essential workers continue fighting on the frontlines, the responsibility of ordinary citizens is equally important. Sometimes staying home, being careful, and following simple precautions can itself become an act of responsibility toward society.

This period too shall eventually pass.
But awareness, discipline, hygiene, and collective responsibility are what help societies endure difficult times.

Stay safe.
Stay aware.
Stay responsible.

And most importantly.

STAY HOME, BE IMMUNE!

Remember, we can beat this virus if we are together.

Shanmukha
FUN WITH STORIES!

The Princes' Willpower - Free E-Book for Kids!

Welcome to Rajagriha! 

Are you ready for a royal adventure filled with magic fairies, powerful kings, secret shields, and life lessons? Welcome to The Princes' Willpower! 

A Short Fairy Tale Book authored by Shanmukha, FUN WITH STORIES! | For ages todder to 10.

This is a story about the kingdom of Rajagriha and the chaotic journeys of two princes, Scharier and Nriga. You’ll see what happens when greed gets the best of someone, how a family stays together, and how a country gets saved from a weird disappearing rumor. 

It has fast-paced magic, action, and plenty of unintentional comedy. At its heart, the book is a simple reminder of why being honest, good, and respecting your parents matters most.

And parents, this will bring your inner child out, while celebrating the very innocent childhood of your young ones!

The book can be accessed below for absolutely free of cost with the hyperlink below:

Click here to view it.

Discussion Starters:

You can have a good and brief conversation with each other on these topics, it's a fun way to spend time together amidst this period of staying at home!

1. The Greed Check In the beginning, Prince Scharier gets greedy the moment he sees his father's treasure. What do you think is the actual difference between just wanting something nice and being greedy? How did that greed ruin things for Scharier?

2. The 17 km/hr Race King Shitampu literally has to run at a precise speed of 17 km/hr to catch a runaway minister at the magical border shield. If you had a magical shield protecting your bedroom, what bizarre or specific secret rule would someone need to follow to get past it?

3. The Weighing Scale Journey To take his elderly parents on a pilgrimage, Scharier carries them on a giant weighing balance with one parent on each side. What is a highly creative or funny way you can think of to help out your own parents or grandparents when they are tired?

4. The "Lesson" Battle Scharier and Nriga fight an intense four-day sword battle, but Scharier didn't actually want to hurt his brother - he just wanted to "teach him a lesson" about being kind to citizens. What would have been a much better way for the brothers to solve their argument without swinging swords for four days?

5. The Ultimate Moral The book constantly reminds us that "Good is the best." Out of all the quick lessons in the story, which one stood out to you the most, and how can we actually practice it at home?

                                        

FUN WITH STORIES! eBook - Full of stories! (free)

 Welcome to FUN WITH STORIES!

Are you ready for a world where picnic adventures can take you all the way to outer space, math-loving ministers wear special "geometry suits," and a giant eagle can carry you to a dwarf planet? 

A unique compilation exclusively for kids, written by Shanmukha | For ages toddler to 10.

The E-Book can be accessed for absolutely free of cost via the hyperlink given below:

  Ebook of STORIES - Click here to view

A Brief Preview

Inside this book, you'll find a grand mix originally authored stories, classic fables, traditional tales of Sri Krishna, and totally wild, original adventures - including the legendary showdown between the world and the wicked villain, Corona! It’s packed with fast-moving magic, brave treehouse heroes, and big-hearted lessons. 

This book is a pure, hilarious, and innocent celebration of childhood imagination that will make kids cheer and bring a massive smile to every parent's face.

🗣️ Pre-and-Post Reading Discussion Starters for Parents & Kids

Use these fun, grounded questions to chat about the stories together:

1. The Dwarf Planet Picnic In The Saviour, Kitty and Louise are minding their own business at a picnic when they are suddenly carried off to the dwarf planet Eris in the middle of the universe. If you were having a picnic and suddenly got transported to any planet in the solar system, which one would you pick, and what would you pack in your space-picnic basket?

2. The Chief Minister's Code Alias perfectly decodes King Kevin's secret backward-alphabet message to prove he is brilliant at mathematics. If you and your friends had to create a secret code language that adults couldn't understand, how would your code work?

3. The Myth of Corona In The Death of Evil Corona, the virus is actually a wicked man who does penance to get a magical, invisible superpower from God. Why do you think staying at home and listening to health rules was the ultimate trick that defeated him?

4. The Ant Queen's Hospitality Even though the Grasshopper was lazy all summer and ignored her advice, the Ant Queen orders her guards to take him to the "hospitality room" and take care of him when he faints. Why is it important to help people who made a mistake, instead of just saying "I told you so"?

5. The Mud-to-Gold Miracle Baby Krishna is so happy with the fruit seller's kindness that he accidentally turns four ordinary pieces of mud into solid gold. If you could turn any everyday object in your room into gold just by being kind, what item would you choose? 

The Clever Fox (Panchatantra Retelling)

   There was a crow which was very hungry.

It went in search of food. 

A cunning fox was searching for food too as it was also hungry.

Now, let's go to our friend, Mr.crow.

Crow suddenly saw a piece of cheese. Who doesn't love cheese?

The cheese looked very tasty. YUMMY! 

It took the cheese in its small beak and flew away to its home.

Suddenly the fox saw cheese in crow's mouth from a distance.

It had a wicked plan of taking away the cheese from the crow.

It said, "Brother you sing very nicely!"

"Please sing oh golden voice. I am you're fan!"

The crow didn't think of consequences.

When crow opened it's beak to sing, the cheese fell down.

The fox immediately gulped the cheese before the crow came and ran away.

Moral : Every praise may not be true to the words. You're brain is the biggest asset that can help you make good choices, be careful!

                     Story by - Vishnu Sharma, Panchatantra tale

Video out on YouTube, check out the channel!