the Crane and Crab: Jataka Tale Rhymes

A hungry crane waits beside a shrinking pond, watching the fish grow worried as the summer heat presses down. With soft words and a promise of safety, he offers to carry them to a beautiful lotus pool where cool water and blossoms wait. One by one, the fish believe him, never seeing the danger hidden behind his helpful smile. Then only the crab remains. He listens to the crane's sweet promise, but his sharp eyes and sharper claws notice what the others missed. When the crane tries to carry him away, the crab makes a bargain of his own, and the trickster soon learns what happens when cleverness meets courage. Told in lively rhyme across twenty-five chapters, this ancient Jātaka tale brings a forest pond, a sly crane, a trusting school of fish, a watchful crab, and a wise Tree-sprite to life. With bright Kalamkari-inspired illustrations and a story full of suspense, wit, and poetic justice, this book offers a timeless tale about deceit, discernment, and the moment when a hunter becomes the one caught.

Pages: 57, Paperback, Independently published