What do you think?
Rate this book
Manu and the Talking Fish
In a classic Indian version of the story of the flood, Manu, an Indian prince, rescues a talking fish whose advice he follows to save himself, and the whole world, from destruction.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2000
3 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 15, 2022
Curious and kind, Prince Manu rescues a tiny fish in this flood myth from the Hindu tradition, only to discover that his new piscine friend is none other than the god Brahma in disguise. Warned that a terrible flood is coming, Manu builds a ship, taking animals and seven wise men aboard. Surviving the waters that eventually cover the entire earth, Manu rebuilds the world, peopling it again with the children he has with his wife, born from milk...
Flood myths can be found the world over, from the biblical Noah story—believed to come from the earlier Babylonian flood myth in the Enuma Elish —to the story of Watákame, the sole survivor of a great flood in the Huichol mythology of Mexico. It is always fascinating to encounter an example of this tale type with which I am unfamiliar, so I picked up Manu and the Talking Fish with some anticipation. I found it quite engaging, and appreciated author/illustrator Roberta Arenson's simple narrative and striking collage artwork, with its vibrant colors and bold shapes. The note about the story and the list of sources at the rear was most welcome, and I was interested to learn that this tale can be found in the Satapatha Brahmana and The Mahabharata , and that it predates the Noah story. The parallels are fascinating, not just in terms of the flood itself and the divine warning, but the fact that Manu's boat comes to rest on a tall mountain. I feel that these are elements often seen in this type of tale. In any case, this is an appealing telling of this tale, and is one I would recommend to young folklore and mythology enthusiasts, as well as to those interested in conducting a unit on comparative flood myths for young students.
Flood myths can be found the world over, from the biblical Noah story—believed to come from the earlier Babylonian flood myth in the Enuma Elish —to the story of Watákame, the sole survivor of a great flood in the Huichol mythology of Mexico. It is always fascinating to encounter an example of this tale type with which I am unfamiliar, so I picked up Manu and the Talking Fish with some anticipation. I found it quite engaging, and appreciated author/illustrator Roberta Arenson's simple narrative and striking collage artwork, with its vibrant colors and bold shapes. The note about the story and the list of sources at the rear was most welcome, and I was interested to learn that this tale can be found in the Satapatha Brahmana and The Mahabharata , and that it predates the Noah story. The parallels are fascinating, not just in terms of the flood itself and the divine warning, but the fact that Manu's boat comes to rest on a tall mountain. I feel that these are elements often seen in this type of tale. In any case, this is an appealing telling of this tale, and is one I would recommend to young folklore and mythology enthusiasts, as well as to those interested in conducting a unit on comparative flood myths for young students.
March 1, 2016
Title: Manu and the Talking Fish
Author: Roberta Arenson
Illustrator:Roberta Arenson
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): kindness, friendship
Brief Book Summary:
Manu's life becomes changed when he rescues the life of a talking fish after the huge flood.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Uma Krishnaswami (Children's Literature)
Arenson's vividly contrasting collages are the highlight of this variant of the flood tale from the Hindu traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The text, alas, doesn't quite measure up. It is heavy-handed at times, with narrative voice intruding upon the flow of story, the rhythms failing to capture the flavors and nuances of the region, rendering the whole a little bland. This is a very complex tale to take on in thirty-two pages, and removed from its spiritual context it seems, quite unlike Manu's ship and Arenson's carefully crafted art, to flounder in the telling. 2000, Barefoot Books, $15.95. Ages 7 to 10.
(PUBLISHER: Barefoot $15.95., PUBLISHED: 2000)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
GraceAnne A. DeCandido (Booklist, April 1, 2000 (Vol. 96, No. 15))
Stories of a flood that destroys and then renews the world come from many cultures: this one is from India and predates the biblical story about Noah. Manu is a prince who wonders about many things. One day, while sitting by the River Ganges thinking, he saves a small fish and brings it to his palace. The fish promises to help Manu, and when it grows so large it needs to be released into the sea, it tells Manu that a flood is coming to destroy the world. Manu builds a boat and fills it with animals, seeds, and seven wise men, as the fish bids him. The fish pulls the boat to safety, and when the waters recede, Manu sets the animals free and plants the seeds. A woman rises out of an offering of milk to be Manu's wife and to repopulate the earth. Arenson's color-saturated, textured collages use both painted and printed paper to make an array of forms and shapes that capture the story's mood. Category: For the Young. 2000, Barefoot, $15.95. Ages 4-8, younger for reading aloud.
(PUBLISHER: Barefoot Books (New York N.Y.:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The first professional review is more about how the reader feels about the text. They seem to really dislike it. These reasons being the story doesn't flow right, it doesn't capture the region correctly in their opinion and it is almost too complex. The second review i found more describes what the story is about. It explains that the story comes from the biblical story about noah.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book can help children to understand the concept of Noahs Arc. It comes from a different perspective that they are used to like from India.
Consideration of Instructional Application
This could be used in my classroom to maybe develop problem solving. In the book the problem was the flood that was coming and all of the aninmals were going to die unless Manu saved them. So I could give my children a real life scenario and teach them ways on how to solve them.
Author: Roberta Arenson
Illustrator:Roberta Arenson
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): kindness, friendship
Brief Book Summary:
Manu's life becomes changed when he rescues the life of a talking fish after the huge flood.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Uma Krishnaswami (Children's Literature)
Arenson's vividly contrasting collages are the highlight of this variant of the flood tale from the Hindu traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The text, alas, doesn't quite measure up. It is heavy-handed at times, with narrative voice intruding upon the flow of story, the rhythms failing to capture the flavors and nuances of the region, rendering the whole a little bland. This is a very complex tale to take on in thirty-two pages, and removed from its spiritual context it seems, quite unlike Manu's ship and Arenson's carefully crafted art, to flounder in the telling. 2000, Barefoot Books, $15.95. Ages 7 to 10.
(PUBLISHER: Barefoot $15.95., PUBLISHED: 2000)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
GraceAnne A. DeCandido (Booklist, April 1, 2000 (Vol. 96, No. 15))
Stories of a flood that destroys and then renews the world come from many cultures: this one is from India and predates the biblical story about Noah. Manu is a prince who wonders about many things. One day, while sitting by the River Ganges thinking, he saves a small fish and brings it to his palace. The fish promises to help Manu, and when it grows so large it needs to be released into the sea, it tells Manu that a flood is coming to destroy the world. Manu builds a boat and fills it with animals, seeds, and seven wise men, as the fish bids him. The fish pulls the boat to safety, and when the waters recede, Manu sets the animals free and plants the seeds. A woman rises out of an offering of milk to be Manu's wife and to repopulate the earth. Arenson's color-saturated, textured collages use both painted and printed paper to make an array of forms and shapes that capture the story's mood. Category: For the Young. 2000, Barefoot, $15.95. Ages 4-8, younger for reading aloud.
(PUBLISHER: Barefoot Books (New York N.Y.:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The first professional review is more about how the reader feels about the text. They seem to really dislike it. These reasons being the story doesn't flow right, it doesn't capture the region correctly in their opinion and it is almost too complex. The second review i found more describes what the story is about. It explains that the story comes from the biblical story about noah.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book can help children to understand the concept of Noahs Arc. It comes from a different perspective that they are used to like from India.
Consideration of Instructional Application
This could be used in my classroom to maybe develop problem solving. In the book the problem was the flood that was coming and all of the aninmals were going to die unless Manu saved them. So I could give my children a real life scenario and teach them ways on how to solve them.
July 19, 2010
I used this book to teach a lesson on Hinduism with a student who was interested in Indian culture. What I loved about this book is that it allowed the student to see the roles various gods in Hinduism play, she could analyze the circular notion of time in Hinduism, and she was able to compare it to her own background in Judaism. As Manu and the Talking Fish is a story about the flood, she used her own schema about Noah's Ark to compare how time and interactions with gods/G-d differ between the two cultures. She then chose a story from Hinduism (The story of Krishna) and altered it to reflect Jewish values and concepts of time, while identifying the parts of the story she needed to change due to different cultural beliefs. Overall, a very successful assignment and she loved the book.
December 14, 2017
Reading Log #3
Title: Manu and the Talking Fish
Author: Roberta Arenson
Illustrator: Roberta Arenson
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Friendship, kindness
Brief Book Summary: Manu is the prince in India and he coincidentally saves a fish from dying. In return, the fish warns the prince that a terrible flood will come so Manu prepares a boat filled with seeds, plants, wise men, and animals. After the flood receded, a woman miraculously emerges and becomes Manu’s wife. Together, they repopulate the earth.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
• Name of Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
• Name of Source: Children’s Literature
• Link to source: http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
• Short blurb from the review:
• In Indian mythology, Manu the prince is rewarded when he saves the life of a fish who is the god Brahma in disguise. To thank him, the fish warns Manu of a terrible flood to come. Like Noah, Manu builds a boat to save plants, animals, and wise men. After the flood, he plants the seeds, sets the animals free, and builds a new house. He marries a woman who appears magically from a sacrifice. Their children replenish the earth. This flood tale offers parallels and contrasts to many others. The decorative collage double-page scenes hint at Indian patterns. They are vibrant in the juxtapositioning of contrasting colors and the boldness of the abstraction of objects like the boat, the fish, and the architecture. The appealing tale is presented with considerable visual imagination. A background note adds information on Hindu mythology, art sources, and a bibliography. 2000, Barefoot Books, $15.95. Ages 5 to 8.
(PUBLISHER: Barefoot Books (New York N.Y.:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
• Name of Reviewer: GraceAnne A. DeCandido
• Name of Source: Booklist
• Link to source: http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
• Short blurb from the review:
• Stories of a flood that destroys and then renews the world come from many cultures: this one is from India and predates the biblical story about Noah. Manu is a prince who wonders about many things. One day, while sitting by the River Ganges thinking, he saves a small fish and brings it to his palace. The fish promises to help Manu, and when it grows so large it needs to be released into the sea, it tells Manu that a flood is coming to destroy the world. Manu builds a boat and fills it with animals, seeds, and seven wise men, as the fish bids him. The fish pulls the boat to safety, and when the waters recede, Manu sets the animals free and plants the seeds. A woman rises out of an offering of milk to be Manu's wife and to repopulate the earth. Arenson's color-saturated, textured collages use both painted and printed paper to make an array of forms and shapes that capture the story's mood. Category: For the Young. 2000, Barefoot, $15.95. Ages 4-8, younger for reading aloud.
(PUBLISHER: Barefoot Books (New York N.Y.:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Just as both of the two professional reviews pointed out, this story is similar to the famous story of Noah. I agree with the reviews that the illustrations are definitely amusing and add strength to the story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations in this book are worth noting for their vibrant and multiple colors and shapes. The collage like illustrations contain many different colors but blend well with the story. Some of Molly Bang’s Picture This! principles can be seen in action in this book. The illustrations with a lot of diagonal or pointy shapes definitely adds action and motion.
Consideration of Instructional Application: After a read aloud students can compare and contrast Manu and the Talking Fish and the story of Noah. There are significant similarities in the storyline and aside from religion, students can investigate what the common moral of both of those stories are. Also, students can research other cultural myths that contain similar content.
Title: Manu and the Talking Fish
Author: Roberta Arenson
Illustrator: Roberta Arenson
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Friendship, kindness
Brief Book Summary: Manu is the prince in India and he coincidentally saves a fish from dying. In return, the fish warns the prince that a terrible flood will come so Manu prepares a boat filled with seeds, plants, wise men, and animals. After the flood receded, a woman miraculously emerges and becomes Manu’s wife. Together, they repopulate the earth.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
• Name of Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
• Name of Source: Children’s Literature
• Link to source: http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
• Short blurb from the review:
• In Indian mythology, Manu the prince is rewarded when he saves the life of a fish who is the god Brahma in disguise. To thank him, the fish warns Manu of a terrible flood to come. Like Noah, Manu builds a boat to save plants, animals, and wise men. After the flood, he plants the seeds, sets the animals free, and builds a new house. He marries a woman who appears magically from a sacrifice. Their children replenish the earth. This flood tale offers parallels and contrasts to many others. The decorative collage double-page scenes hint at Indian patterns. They are vibrant in the juxtapositioning of contrasting colors and the boldness of the abstraction of objects like the boat, the fish, and the architecture. The appealing tale is presented with considerable visual imagination. A background note adds information on Hindu mythology, art sources, and a bibliography. 2000, Barefoot Books, $15.95. Ages 5 to 8.
(PUBLISHER: Barefoot Books (New York N.Y.:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
• Name of Reviewer: GraceAnne A. DeCandido
• Name of Source: Booklist
• Link to source: http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
• Short blurb from the review:
• Stories of a flood that destroys and then renews the world come from many cultures: this one is from India and predates the biblical story about Noah. Manu is a prince who wonders about many things. One day, while sitting by the River Ganges thinking, he saves a small fish and brings it to his palace. The fish promises to help Manu, and when it grows so large it needs to be released into the sea, it tells Manu that a flood is coming to destroy the world. Manu builds a boat and fills it with animals, seeds, and seven wise men, as the fish bids him. The fish pulls the boat to safety, and when the waters recede, Manu sets the animals free and plants the seeds. A woman rises out of an offering of milk to be Manu's wife and to repopulate the earth. Arenson's color-saturated, textured collages use both painted and printed paper to make an array of forms and shapes that capture the story's mood. Category: For the Young. 2000, Barefoot, $15.95. Ages 4-8, younger for reading aloud.
(PUBLISHER: Barefoot Books (New York N.Y.:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Just as both of the two professional reviews pointed out, this story is similar to the famous story of Noah. I agree with the reviews that the illustrations are definitely amusing and add strength to the story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations in this book are worth noting for their vibrant and multiple colors and shapes. The collage like illustrations contain many different colors but blend well with the story. Some of Molly Bang’s Picture This! principles can be seen in action in this book. The illustrations with a lot of diagonal or pointy shapes definitely adds action and motion.
Consideration of Instructional Application: After a read aloud students can compare and contrast Manu and the Talking Fish and the story of Noah. There are significant similarities in the storyline and aside from religion, students can investigate what the common moral of both of those stories are. Also, students can research other cultural myths that contain similar content.
September 19, 2021
I'm using this Story for an essay wish me luck 🍀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2014
Manu and the talking fish by Roberta Arenson is a beautifully illustrated tale of friendship, warning and compassion. Showing similarities to the biblical story of Noah’s ark, the Indian tale discusses the great flood and what to do when it comes. This well written and eye catching book would be good in showing the different cultures and beliefs that exist. It would be a good account for the discussion of religious beliefs on a primary school level as it is accessible through the language it uses. As well as the illustrations and storytelling, another brilliant point of this story is the ending. It ends with a question which makes the reader contemplate what they have just read and encourages them to come to their own conclusion. A thoroughly enjoyable read for young and old where you are taken in by the prose as well as illustrations.
February 26, 2015
When people ask about my son's name, I sometimes say it's the Hindu equivalent of Noah. It's not an accurate translation, but the stories are similar enough to satisfy the idly curious.
Manu was thrilled to see this book, mostly because he was incredibly amused to see his name in print. As we read the story together, I found myself cringing in places, because the book deviates so wildly from the myth I was told growing up, the same one I had been telling my Manu. I wasn't sure I would be able to explain away the differences if he caught them. But as it turns out, he was so intrigued by the questions the book asked, and forced him to ask, that I forgot my concerns and was able to simply enjoy the experience.
Manu was thrilled to see this book, mostly because he was incredibly amused to see his name in print. As we read the story together, I found myself cringing in places, because the book deviates so wildly from the myth I was told growing up, the same one I had been telling my Manu. I wasn't sure I would be able to explain away the differences if he caught them. But as it turns out, he was so intrigued by the questions the book asked, and forced him to ask, that I forgot my concerns and was able to simply enjoy the experience.
September 9, 2012
I thought this book was really interesting because it seems like it is the Indian version of the Biblical flood with Noah and God. I am Christian, so I know the Biblical story very well and it was very interesting to hear another version of it. Kids would really enjoy this book for many reasons. The book starts out with Manu thinking about how the world works and asking himself many questions about it. The questions he asks could be very similar to questions kids have about the world. Also, the last page ends with a question, "What do you think?" That would be perfect; end the book with a discussion about what the class thinks will happen to Manu and the talking fish.
September 26, 2010
Prince Manu was always curious about the world around him. One day, as he was fishing, he encountered a talking fish (the god Brahma in disguise) who needed to be rescued. In exchange for saving him, the fish tells Manu of the great flood that is coming and tells him to build a ship, gather the animals and wise men, and build a new home after the rains have stopped. Fantastic collage illustrations made from painted and printed papers (watercolor, oil pastel, crayon, stenciled monoprints). Recommended
April 6, 2015
This India flood story comes from Hindu mythology, but students will quickly notice the connections to the story of Noah and the ark. In this story it is the god Brahma, disguised as a fish, who finds goodness in the heart of Manu the fisherman and alerts him to the impending flood. A great way to help students compare and contrast similar ancient tales.
April 27, 2015
I liked this book. This book reminded me of Noah's arc. I like how the back of the book discussed how many cultures have their own version of this story. I would read this book during Spring because of all of the rain and visible animals.
November 3, 2009
I love the illustrations. :)
December 15, 2009
It takes a different spin on the story of Noah, through an Indian Mythology. Very interesting way of seeing this story and of depicting the pictures.
Read
May 1, 2017Title: Manu and the Talking Fish
Author: Roberta Arenson
Illustrator: Roberta Arenson
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): Friendship, kindness
Opening line/Sentence: “Manu was able to meditate through yoga and achieve Moksha, or enlightenment”
Brief Book Summary: This is a retell of the Indian story of Manu about a boy who saves the life of a fish. The fish he saved isn’t any ordinary fish; this fish can talk! Manu’s life is changed forever when he rescues this fish after a huge flood.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Children’s Literature- Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz “In Indian mythology, Manu the prince is rewarded when he saves the life of a fish who is the god Brahma in disguise. To thank him, the fish warns Manu of a terrible flood to come. Like Noah, Manu builds a boat to save plants, animals, and wise men. After the flood, he plants the seeds, sets the animals free, and builds a new house. He marries a woman who appears magically from a sacrifice. Their children replenish the earth. This flood tale offers parallels and contrasts to many others. The decorative collage double-page scenes hint at Indian patterns. They are vibrant in the juxtapositioning of contrasting colors and the boldness of the abstraction of objects like the boat, the fish, and the architecture. The appealing tale is presented with considerable visual imagination. A background note adds information on Hindu mythology, art sources, and a bibliography”
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Children’s Literature- Uma Krishnaswami “Arenson's vividly contrasting collages are the highlight of this variant of the flood tale from the Hindu traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The text, alas, doesn't quite measure up. It is heavy-handed at times, with narrative voice intruding upon the flow of story, the rhythms failing to capture the flavors and nuances of the region, rendering the whole a little bland. This is a very complex tale to take on in thirty-two pages, and removed from its spiritual context it seems, quite unlike Manu's ship and Arenson's carefully crafted art, to flounder in the telling.”
Response to Two Professional Reviews: The first review is very detailed, explaining the storyline and analyzing the illustrations. The second review, however, is not describing the book but explaining how the reader feels. The only good thing they noted about the book was the illustrations. Other than that, they seem to think the book is too complex, does not flow well and doesn’t provide the correct information.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The double-page spread consists of both printed and painted paper that creates different forms and shapes correlating with the story’s mood. This book also ends with a question that keeps the reader wondering what they just read and form their own conclusion.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book could be used to teach a lesson on Hinduism. Through this book, students can see the roles various gods in Hinduism play. This book could also be used for creative problem solving activities. The teacher can give students a real-life scenario of a disaster (such as a flood) and have them come up with examples of what they would do in this situation.
Author: Roberta Arenson
Illustrator: Roberta Arenson
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): Friendship, kindness
Opening line/Sentence: “Manu was able to meditate through yoga and achieve Moksha, or enlightenment”
Brief Book Summary: This is a retell of the Indian story of Manu about a boy who saves the life of a fish. The fish he saved isn’t any ordinary fish; this fish can talk! Manu’s life is changed forever when he rescues this fish after a huge flood.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Children’s Literature- Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz “In Indian mythology, Manu the prince is rewarded when he saves the life of a fish who is the god Brahma in disguise. To thank him, the fish warns Manu of a terrible flood to come. Like Noah, Manu builds a boat to save plants, animals, and wise men. After the flood, he plants the seeds, sets the animals free, and builds a new house. He marries a woman who appears magically from a sacrifice. Their children replenish the earth. This flood tale offers parallels and contrasts to many others. The decorative collage double-page scenes hint at Indian patterns. They are vibrant in the juxtapositioning of contrasting colors and the boldness of the abstraction of objects like the boat, the fish, and the architecture. The appealing tale is presented with considerable visual imagination. A background note adds information on Hindu mythology, art sources, and a bibliography”
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Children’s Literature- Uma Krishnaswami “Arenson's vividly contrasting collages are the highlight of this variant of the flood tale from the Hindu traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The text, alas, doesn't quite measure up. It is heavy-handed at times, with narrative voice intruding upon the flow of story, the rhythms failing to capture the flavors and nuances of the region, rendering the whole a little bland. This is a very complex tale to take on in thirty-two pages, and removed from its spiritual context it seems, quite unlike Manu's ship and Arenson's carefully crafted art, to flounder in the telling.”
Response to Two Professional Reviews: The first review is very detailed, explaining the storyline and analyzing the illustrations. The second review, however, is not describing the book but explaining how the reader feels. The only good thing they noted about the book was the illustrations. Other than that, they seem to think the book is too complex, does not flow well and doesn’t provide the correct information.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The double-page spread consists of both printed and painted paper that creates different forms and shapes correlating with the story’s mood. This book also ends with a question that keeps the reader wondering what they just read and form their own conclusion.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book could be used to teach a lesson on Hinduism. Through this book, students can see the roles various gods in Hinduism play. This book could also be used for creative problem solving activities. The teacher can give students a real-life scenario of a disaster (such as a flood) and have them come up with examples of what they would do in this situation.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews