No one quite knew how Gopal, the son of a barber from a small village became Maharaja Krishna Chandra's jester. Was it his wit? Rumoured to be impossibly sharp? Or was it his infectious chuckle that could move the dourest soul?

Religion is not in books, not in forms, not in sects, not in nation; religion is in the human heart...It is love alone that can conquer hatred...'- Swami Vivekananda A genius, a visionary, a writer, a dreamer, a teacher and an inspiration for generations of Indians--this was Swami Vivekananda. Born into a family of lawyers, Narendranath Dutta was an exceptionally intelligent child, a natural leader among his playmates, who impressed his teachers with his scholarship. The spirituality of his mentor Shri Ramakrishna and his own study of philosophy and logic influenced Narendranath to join the monastic order. Vivekananda was the spokesperson for India at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago where the magic of his words held his audience in thrall. He also instilled among the Indian youth self-confidence and the hope of regeneration. Devika Rangachari's account of the life and times of Swami Vivekananda is both inspiring and absorbing. It is the remarkable story of a spiritual leader who worked against overwhelming odds to realize his vision of a free India.

Tanjore, 1942 There are few excitements in Thambi's quiet life. There is the new hotel, disapproved of by elders, which lures him with the aroma of sambar with onions. There are visits to the library to read the newspaper, and once in a while, a new movie at the Rajaram Electric Theatre. More disagreeably, there are fortnightly visits from his uncle to lay down the law. When Gandhiji announces the Quit India movement, Tanjore is torn apart by protests. The train station-the lifeline of the town-is vandalized. Mysterious leaflets are circulated, containing news that newspapers do not publish. And inspired by the idea of a free India and his own dreams of being an engineer, Thambi must find the courage to do what he believes is right-even when it endangers all he holds dear. The Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the struggle for independence.

Get ready for some fabulous fun with these action-packed stories from the sports field! Fancied Orchid School is already 33 for no loss in the three overs before lunch. Can Model School successfully unleash its secret weapon, Anshuman the chess nerd, and win the match? The two towns of Dilshan and Deewar have their prides at stake at the annual kabaddi competition, and when Lt. Aaron, owner of Tasty Buds and baker of delectable cakes, announces he will eat his hat if his town actually wins, it spurs the Dilshan-ites to greater heights. Neeru decides to start playing hockey like her mother to deal with her loss, and discovers there's no therapy like getting some dirt on her spotless whites. Hockey, TT, cricket, golf, basketball; winners, losers, underdogs, bullies, heroes and cheats, Let's Play! The Puffin Book of Sports Stories has them all, and more. Funny, uplifting and moving, this unique collection vividly portrays the heartbreaks and triumphs that are an essential part of playing sports, and is an absolute must-read.

Everyone agreed that Raman of Tenali was very clever. As a boy, he exasperated people with his mischief as much as he impressed them with his intelligence. As jester in the court of King Krishna Devaraya, Tenali continued to etertain and annoy the king and courtiers in equal measure. But underlying the buffoonery and audacious exploits was a keen concern for truth and a desire to bring to light the follies of men and society. This collection of eighteen stories contains all the wit and wisdom that make the stories of Tenali Raman so widely read and well loved.

In a small town somewhere in the Middle East lived Mulla Nasruddin. Mulla Nasruddin was famous for being a bit odd. He reacted to the follies of his fellow men and to the challenges of daily life - be it catching a runaway basket or celebrating the birth of a pot - in a manner that people found strange. But most wise men agreed that beneath the apparent foolishness of Mulla Nasruddin was a keen perception that cut straight to the truth. This collection of twenty-five tales contains all the fun and wisdom that makes the stories of Mulla Nasruddin so widely read and well loved.

The cleverness of Birbal, the most famous minister in the Mughal emporer Akbar's court, is legendary. Whenever Emporer Akbar had a problem to solve, or a philosophic question to ask, it was Birbal he turned to. And Birbal would provide him with thought-provoking or bizzarre answers, which resolved the monarch's dilemma. So whether it was why the palms of people's hands are hairless, or if a mango tree could stand witness in court, or whether all sons-in-law should be hanged, Birbal could suggest an intelligent and funny solution to these problems. This made him Akbar's favourite, which in turn earned Birbal the envy of the other courtiers. This collection of twenty-one fabulously funny stories contains all the wit and wisdom that make the stories of Birbal so widely read and loved.