
Age rating and parents' guide:How the Sea Became Salty
by Sudha Murty
Ages 5–9
How the Sea Became Salty by Sudha Murty is best for children aged 5–9. It has no violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Folklore retelling with mild magical peril.
A lively retelling of an Indian folk explanation for the sea's saltiness, with humor and a memorable magical object.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- None
- Scary moments
- Mild
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Folklore retelling with mild magical peril.
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Early chapter book
- Easy to get into from the first page
- Plenty of illustrations
- Emotionally light
- A good pick for reluctant readers
- Indian author, setting or story
Great for kids who like
- Fantasy & Magic
- Humor & Comedy
- Indian stories
Reading mood
- Funny
- Imaginative
Good to talk about
- Nature & wildlife
- Indian heritage
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