The book you are holding in your hands is a collection of six short stories written by a grandmother who wanted to introduce her grandchildren to the land of their origin, Punjab in Pakistan. The name 'Punjab' is derived from the Farsi/ Persian words broadly translating to 'five rivers'.

Tales from the Land of Five Rivers went to the printers because of the social isolation and the unique circumstances created by Covid-19. The six tales are a peek at the colourful Punjab of the author's childhood, a joy she wanted to share with children from around the world.

These stories evolved while the kids steered their grandmother on with endless questions about the land of their origin. There is one inspired by 'Basant, ' the colourful kite festival, while the rest are about endearing birds and animals and the joy that kids derive by bonding with them.

The stories are very descriptive and rendered in a manner that captivates a child's imagination right from the very beginning.

The author, my mother, did not forget to add a moral lesson to her fiction. This has been done very discreetly, making the stories as meaningful as they are entertaining.

Ahmed Naeem