The Tales of Dwipa 
Prajwala Dixit, illustrated by Duncan Major 
Breakwater Books 
(Ages 9-12) 

This evocative and lively retelling of a series of traditional tales from India is filled with profound truths as relevant today as they were when they were originally written. The stories are set on the fictional island of Dwipa, where animals converse freely with one another, and feature Mima and her canine companions Lok and Neena, who share a number of adventures that unfold in a series of four stories. 

The friends encounter fish who refuse to adapt to changing circumstances, a hare who demonstrates the value of “mind over might” and unexpected friendships that remind readers that we all have our own individual strengths. With a distinctly Newfoundland flavour, these stories are filled with a range of colourful characters from Barasingha the caribou and Elee the vole to Timi the transgender orca whale. Mima, Lok and Neena learn valuable life lessons from their interactions with all of these creatures. 

Dixit has skillfully given these folktales a fresh and contemporary resonance while remaining true to their original spirit. Mima and her animal friends encounter situations where those who refuse to accept change and to embrace the unknown suffer the consequences. They learn about a power-hungry wolf whose egotism was his undoing and about an orca whale who betrays their dearest friend but also finds the courage to boldly proclaim their truth to the entire pod. The messages are both timely and timeless in their appeal. 

Duncan Major’s loose, organic and free-flowing illustrations with their subdued, earth-toned palette capture a sense of the enduring and universal nature of these tales as well as the elements that give them their more uniquely Newfoundland twist.