Today’s top ten post is a twofer! I continue my Navratri (Dussehra or Dasara) series with ten wonderful stories of Dussehra for you. And while some of the covers of these books most likely satisfy this week’s theme over at ThatArtsyReaderGirl of cool typographical covers, I have included ten that I love anyways!

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Ten Wonderful Stories for Dussehra

Here are the books that tell stories for Dussehra in no particular order.

For younger readers and readers of all ages

Stories for Dussehra and Celebrations too: Part One

• Mimi and Soni discover Dussehra Legends (4 – 8 years). A delightful book that takes readers through different legends around the Dussehra festival. With relatable characters, cute illustrations, and easy to understand yet engaging narrative, this book is sure to inform and entertain readers of all ages.
• Ved And Friends Celebrate Dussehra And Diwali (5 – 10 years, and up). With bright colorful illustrations and told in sections highlighting the celebrations and the many stories across various regions of India around these festivals, this book is a great way to learn about Indian culture and a few of its festivals. It also includes an activities section at the end along with a glossary.
• Let’s Celebrate Navratri! (Nine Nights of Dancing & Fun) (1 – 6 years). I first saw this book via a Facebook group, and have since read other books in the series as well. Maya and Neel delight and inform readers about the various celebrations of India through this beautifully illustrated series.
• Krishna Deva Raya: King of Kings (9 years and up). The illustrations in this book are amazing to say the least, and while I knew the story of Krishna Deva Raya in general, I learned so much through this book that I did not know before. History, storytelling, art, and travel all intermingle effortlessly and brilliantly in this book.
• Upside-Down King (11 years and up). Sudha Murthy always amazes me with her simple storytelling that both engages and entertains readers throughout her books. This one that tells some of the tales surrounding the two most popular avatars of Lord Vishnu-Rama and Krishna-and their lineage is no different. Filled with familiar favorites and many new (new to me) delights, this book is a wonderful collection to my (and your) home library!

Stories and Celebrations: Part Two: or All About The Goddess

• Tales of Durga (all ages). Amar Chitra Katha books were a staple in my home growing up (as was the case with many Indian homes then, and most likely even today!). This book, like all the others, Indian mythology
• Navratri is Nine Nights of Girl Power (7 years and up). This graphic novel tells the story of Navratri using the legend of Mahishasura Mardini (the slayer of the demon Mahishasura), and her battle with him over nine nights.
• Nava Durga: The Nine Forms of the Goddess (7 years and up). First-person narrative from the goddesses themselves interspersed with stories of each goddess for each day of the Navaratri festival as well as delightful and vibrant illustrations make this book a must-read. And it includes more amazing resources (as well as list of sources) towards the end that will ensure the reader is curious and armed to learn more.

For older readers

• 7 Secrets of the Goddess . Devdutt Patnaik’s books always aim to bring the many myths and mysteries of Hinduism in simple, straight-forward text to make it approachable to everyone. Using stories and anecdotes, along with descriptions of traditional rituals and celebrations, Patnaik intersperses these with environmental issues and more, to inform readers. Excellent read!
• The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic. I first read the complete Ramayana (slightly abridged version though) in the seventh or eighth grade since it was one of the Hindi texts for the year. We read the book through the school year, and I was drawn into the story even though we had heard the many tales within throughout our childhood and watched various versions on TV and film. Reading this book by Ramesh Menon brings back those wonderful memories, and I am so glad I am reading it! And look forward to reading more by the author. A must-have for all who want to learn more about this great Indian epic.

And one additional read.

• Shakti: The Divine Feminine. I am reading this one currently, and it is a truly fascinating read. The book explores the various facets and forms of Shakti through a fictionalized story. A wonderful combination of fiction and mythology.

Ten Cool Typographical Covers

Granted, some of these do not fall fully in the theme of typography but I love the clever covers and the placement of titles in a cover that reflects the book overall! So here are ten cool typographical covers for Top Ten Tuesday!

Links either take you to my post for the book.

• Tall
• Lemonade
• Words With Wings
• Carmen and the House that Gaudi Built
• Front Desk
• There’s an N on Your Nose
• The Shadow of the Wind
• Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters
• My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding
• Bombay Balchao

Related Reads & More

• 9 Great Books for the Indian festival of Navratri
• The Ramayana: An Illustrated Retelling : Book Review

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, have you read any of the listed books? Any thoughts on them? Or recommendations for similar reads? What is your favorite typographical book cover? Or simply anyone that caught your eye?