The Littlest Giant The Story of Vamana

An illustrated modern adaptation of the beloved Indian classic “Ten Avatars.”

King Bali is not a bad soul; he’s just ambitious. He wants big things! As a consequence, he doesn’t have friends. What he does have is an evil adviser named Shukra, who is even more ambitious than the king. When King Bali is visited by a tiny sage, Shukra is suspicious and warns the king to stay away. In this retelling of an ancient story from the Sanskrit histories, King Bali learns that big things can come in small packages — and that sometimes a small courtesy can bring big rewards. Illustrator Emma Moore applies luminescent colors and dynamic perspectives to her visualization of this tale of big and little, adapted from India’s beloved “Ten Avatars.” Author Joshua M. Greene’s elegant and direct storytelling renders an otherwise esoteric subject accessible and relevant for contemporary young readers.

Joshua M. Greene teaches Hinduism at Hofstra University in New York. He is the author of several children’s books of stories from India, including Kaliya, Serpent King and Krishna and the Mystery of the Stolen Calves. He lives in New York City. Emma Moore attended Stourbridge College before moving to India, where she studied Hindu art and philosophy for five years. She teaches classical Indian dance. This is her second picture book based on classical tales from India. Her first book in the Mandala Classics series, Manu’s Ark: India’s Tale of the Great Flood, was published in 2012. She lives in Hertfordshire, U.K.