The publications programme is based on educational materials developed for Rishi Valley School and Rural Valley Institute for Educational Resources (RIVER) by their staff and educational associates. Our goals are to document and further advance Rishi Valley's distinctive approach to education in a village environment, including current efforts to integrate the education of boarding school students with rural activities, satellite schools, and the regeneration of the earth. Our publications are designed to provide enrichment material for students from the urban middle class and those from rural areas, and to reach out to other schools and the general public with a view to testing our materials for their wider educational relevance.

Our educational priorities are to promote awareness and care for the environment, which sustains our lives, to develop concern for fellow human beings, to ensure excellence in academics, and to nurture a sense of beauty. With these aims in mind, we have launched the Rishi Valley Education Series. The Series aims for quality publications of the highest standards. The following books are already in print or will be published soon.

Nature Studies

• Birds of Rishi Valley and Renewal of their Habitats, by S. Rangaswami and S. Sridhar. A richly illustrated compendium of nature lore, including a field guide and an extended study of habitat renewal and its impact on local bird life. Fifty colour plates by eminent photographer and naturalist S. Sridhar, drawings by Gerry Balcombe. Published 1993.
• Insects of Rishi Valley, by Rebecca Thomas and Geeta Iyer. An illustrated study recording the diversity of local insect life and tracing its role in preserving the environment. Based on the two authors' many years of experience teaching biology in Rishi Valley School and using local case studies, the book emphasizes the rich interdependence between biological species, which sustain life on earth. (Forthcoming)
• Home Studies Course in Ornithology by S. Rangaswami. A six-month Home Studies Course in Ornithology.

History and Social Studies

• Prehistory for Indian Schools: Our Tribal Ancestors by Radhika Herzberger.
• Prehistory for Indian Schools: Shepherds and Farmers by Radhika Herzberger.
  These text for Middle and High School students traces the paths the human race has taken from its African origins through the Stone Ages to the beginnings of settled life, with detailed case studies of tribal cultures in India that have survived into the 20th century.
• Ancient History for Indian Schools, by Radhika Herzberger. (Forthcoming)
• The First Forty Years, by Roshen Dalal. A brief history of the early years of Rishi Valley School.

Songs, Stories and Theatre Kits

• Vennela Vindu ('A Moonlight Feast'), by Jai Sitaram. Poems and songs for children of all ages, with beautiful and distinctive artwork by the noted illustrator T. Gangadhar (Telugu). Published 1991, 2nd printing, 1992.
• Panchatantra with Puppets, concept designed by YAP Rao and Rama Rao; plays by Vejendla Sambasiva Rao (Telugu) and music composed by V. Seetha Devi; orchestration by Seshadri. Stories from the ancient classic, adapted for elementary schoolchildren, especially first generation learners. Includes scripts of the plays, a teacher's manual, a student workbook, music score, audio cassettes containing the soundtrack, and a puppetry kit adapted from the traditional style of leather puppets from nearby Nimmalakunta in Andhra Pradesh.
• Panchatantra with Puppets, concept designed by YAP Rao and Rama Rao; plays by Sri Sri Prasad (Hindi) and music composed by Smt. A. Yosha orchestration by Seshadri. Stories from the ancient classic, adapted for elementary schoolchildren, especially first generation learners. Includes scripts of the plays, a teacher's manual, a student workbook, music score, audio cassettes containing the soundtrack, and a puppetry kit adapted from the traditional style of leather puppets from nearby Nimmalakunta in Andhra Pradesh.

Education Kits

• School in a Box, by Y.A. Padmanabha Rao, Smt. Rama Padmanabha Rao, and Rishivanam staff. A comprehensive educational programme based on the multi-level, multi-grade methodology. With almost 2000 illustrated study cards and other teaching aids, it is meant to completely equip an elementary school in the areas of Telugu, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies up to class 5.
• Apna Path Pitara concept designed by Y.A. Padmanabha Rao, Smt. Rama Padmanabha Rao. Text by Sri Sri Prasad. It is a comprehensive educational programme based on the multi-level, multi-grade methodology. With almost 2000 illustrated study cards and other teaching aids, it is meant to completely equip an elementary school in the areas of Hindi, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies up to class 5.

Mothers' Stories

A unique collection of traditional stories retold by mothers of the Boya community, retold, transcribed and illustrated by the children.

Work Books

As part of the 'Child-to-Mother Literacy Programmes' these workbooks are aimed at providing support to the mothers in developing literacy skills. They were tried out in a pilot project and the response was excellent - not just the mothers for whom they were prepared, but even their children seemed to enjoy using them! These workbooks are based on school-in-a-box materials and methodology.

Teachers' Resource Pack

Its salient volumes include a training guide for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating multi-grade programmes; a hand-book for introducing theatre and craft into the classroom; scripts and audio cassettes for staging stories from the Panchatantra in Hindi and Telugu; a planning and achievement tracking diary for teachers.

Prices will be available on request. Email: office@rishivalley.org