T is for Taj Mahal

An India Alphabet

From the quiet grandeur of the Himalaya Mountains to the urban city of Calcutta, T is for Taj Mahal: An India Alphabet showcases India's exotic treasures. Visit the haunting Taj Mahal, a tribute from an emperor to his dead wife. Traverse the bustling streets of Mumbai, the second most populated city in the world. Sample a traditional meal fragrant with garam masala spices, or attend a cricket match where some games have lasted up to five days! Varsha Bajaj was born in Mumbai, India. Her book, How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?, was named to the 2005 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List. Varsha lives in Houston, Texas. Robert Crawford's paintings have appeared on the cover of major magazines such as The Atlantic and U.S. News and World Report, as well as books. He also illustrated Sleeping Bear Press's The Legend of the Old Man of the Mountain. Robert lives in Woodbury, Connecticut.

Format List Price Your Price Qty
$17.95 $17.95
$29.95 $29.95
Interest Level Grade 1 - Grade 3
Reading Level
Dewey 954
Lexile
ATOS Reading Level 7.2
Guided Reading Level
Language English
Publisher Sleeping Bear Press
Available Formats Hardcover (9781585365043), PDF (9781410307675), Hosted ebook (9781627534536)
Copyright 2011, 2014
Number of Pages 40
Dimensions 11 x 10
Graphics Full-color illustrations
  • Texas Institute of Letters Finalist Children's Book Category, Runner-up, 2012

A Review of "T is for Taj Mahal" in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

T Is for Taj Mahal is an Indian alphabet book. It is written in a two-tiered format to make it interesting to both children and adults. There is a short, simple, rhyming paragraph for each letter of the alphabet, and then in the sidebar is a longer, more informative paragraph that gives much more detail for the older reader. For example, for the letter T we read that "T is for Taj Mahal. The “Taj” is a monument to the king’s beloved queen. Its marbled majesty and splendor is a sight to be seen." In the sidebar we learn a brief history of which emperor had it built, why he built it, and what it is made of. The book is also filled with beautiful pictures that draw you into the story. There is a website listed on the back of the book that has a teacher’s guide which can be downloaded for free. The guide includes things such as recipes, crafts, word scrambles and more.

This is a very well written and unique book. It is filled with information in a way that is interesting to the young child, holding their attention while at the same time giving them an introduction to India. The sidebars make it interesting to the adults, and they provide information that can be used for the child that wants to know more.

T is for Taj Mahal - Teaching Guide

Refer to download View →

Author: Varsha Bajaj

Varsha Bajaj was born in Mumbai, India. Her book,How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?, was named tothe 2005 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List.Varsha lives in Houston, Texas.

Illustrator: Robert Crawford

Artist Robert Crawford graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. His paintings have appeared on the cover of major magazines such as Fortune, Business Week, The Atlantic and U.S. News and World Report, as well as book covers for major publishers including Random House, Penguin/Putnam, and Avon. Robert's work has won numerous awards and has been selected for permanent collection by the United States government and major corporations. Robert lives in Woodbury, Connecticut.

Full-color illustrations