Krishna and the Mystery of the Stolen Calves

When powerful god Brahma tries to outsmart the village children of Vrindavan, he learns a lesson he wonand#8217;t soon forget: there is magic in friendship. From the ancient texts of India called the Puranas comes this universal tale of childhood bonds. The Puranas contain hundreds of stories, many dedicated to Krishna, honored by Hindus worldwide as divinity in personal form. Whether one views Krishna as a transcendent figure or a magical cowherd boy, his stories captivate young readers. His love of nature and his dedication to family and friends have made him a hero for all ages.

"One day, Krishna and his friends were tending their calves by the Yamuna River. 'Here is a nice spot,' he said. 'The calves can drink from the river while we eat our lunch.' The children sat on the ground and opened their baskets."

and#8212; from the book

Joshua M. Greene teaches Hinduism at Hofstra University and is the author of several childrenand#8217;s books of stories from India. He lives on Long Island.

Dominique Amendola was born in France and lives in Vrindavan, one of Indiaand#8217;s most sacred pilgrimage sites. She has illustrated devotional subjects from Sanskrit texts for more than thirty years.