DUMB

The Donkey Who Wanted to Be a Tiger — And What Happened Next

Every child has that one friend who tries too hard to be someone they're not. Maybe they copy someone else's style, talk differently around certain people, or pretend to like things they don't just to fit in or seem more impressive. It's one of the most relatable things about growing up. And somehow, a little donkey in this book captures all of that perfectly.

DUMB — the donkey who wanted to become a tiger is a clever, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful kids' story written by Gandhari Devi Dasi, illustrated by Vijay Mayker, and published by Sri Vaikunta Enterprises. It's the kind of book that makes children giggle out loud while quietly planting something worth thinking about.

So What Does This Donkey Actually Do?

The story follows a donkey who is deeply unhappy being, well, a donkey. Tigers are strong. Tigers are feared. Tigers are respected. Why should he spend his life being ordinary when he could be something extraordinary or at least look like it?

What follows is the donkey's attempt to become a tiger — and the results are as funny as you'd expect. The gap between who he pretends to be and who he actually is keeps widening, and the situations that arise from that gap will have children laughing and cringing at the same time. That mix of humor and gentle awkwardness is exactly what makes the story work so well.

Why Parents Will Love This Book Too

There's a reason stories about animals pretending to be other animals have existed across every culture for thousands of years. They let children explore real human emotions, insecurity, the desire to impress, and the fear of being "just ordinary" from a safe distance. The child isn't being told "don't pretend to be something you're not." They're watching a donkey live that lesson out, and they're drawing their own conclusions.

That's a far more effective way to teach than any direct conversation. And honestly, it's more fun too.

Gandhari Devi Dasi keeps the writing light and playful throughout — no heavy-handed moralizing, no long explanations. The story moves quickly, the humor lands naturally, and by the last page the message has arrived without anyone feeling lectured.

A Book Rooted in Good Values

This book is dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. That dedication says something about the intention behind it this isn't just entertainment. It's storytelling that comes from a place of genuine care for children's characters and inner lives. The Vaishnava tradition has always understood that stories are among the most powerful teachers available to us, and DUMB carries that spirit lightly but sincerely.

Perfect for Story Time, Perfect as a Gift

At 30 pages with clear line drawings by Vijay Mayker, this paperback is sized at 21 × 13.5 cm — comfortable for little hands and easy for young readers to follow independently. Children aged 4 to 8 will enjoy it most, though younger ones will love hearing it read aloud with sound effects and dramatic pauses at all the right moments.

Available at just ₹70 through the official ISKCON Mayapur store, it makes a wonderful gift for birthdays, festivals, or simply as a midweek surprise that arrives in the post. Some books get read once. This one tends to get requested again.

Pick up DUMB today and find out what happens when a donkey tries to wear a tiger's stripes.

Title : DUMB
Language : ENGLISH
Author : HER GRACE GANDHARI DEVI DASI
Binding : PAPERBACK
ISBN: 9788189564148
Publisher : SRI VAIKUNTA ENTERPRISES
Edition : FIRST
Pages : 30
Product Dimensions : 21 cm x 13.5 cm x 0.2 cm
Product Weight : 0.079 kg