The Sacred Banana Leaf

Kanchil, the beloved trickster mouse-deer of Indonesian folklore, falls into a pit. With only a banana leaf for company, he invents a prophecy to trick some unlikely animals into helping him out - so long as the world doesn't end first! And if anyone dares sneeze, the consequences will be dire...This sequel to the popular Mangoes and Bananas is illustrated in the Patachitra tradition of Orissa, eastern India, an intricate and colourful painting style which brings a cast of enchanting animals to life.

Raised in India of American parents, Nathan has been bridging cultures all his life. A theatre director, designer, playwright, puppeteer and storyteller, his work has been performed in the US, Ecuador, Mexico, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Nathan is also the director of the SAGE (Studies Abroad for Global Education) foundation, which introduces Indian culture to students around the world. Radhashyam Raut trained in his community's traditional Patachitra style of temple mural art, and was awarded a national scholarship to continue his work. He enjoys adapting his tradition to new forms of storytelling - this is his second book after the exquisitely illustrated myth The Circle of Fate, also with Tara. He lives and works in a village in Orissa.