By Laura Simeon

The vibrant world of Indian children’s literature contains many riches for readers worldwide. Indian children have long been flooded with books from the US, the UK, and (in the mid-20^th century) the Soviet Union. While the Indian children’s literature scene is relatively young, and there’s room for growth—for example, in the accessibility of books for lower-income families, publishing in minority languages, and comprehensive regional representation—each year brings fresh, innovative works for young people rooted in India’s many languages and cultures. These creators deserve as much international acclaim as Indian writers for adults have received.

Useful sites for learning more include:

• The literacy nonprofit Bookworm Trust in Goa engages with communities and supports professional development for librarians and educators. Their Quarterly Book Review contains thoughtful, in-depth reflections.
• The Neev Literature Festival, based in Bangalore, includes an annual award, reading challenge, and other initiatives that spotlight some of the best contemporary Indian books for young readers.
• Parag, part of Tata Trusts, sponsors awards, compiles lists of notable books, funds libraries and publishing, and comprises the Indian chapter of IBBY. Their website offers many helpful resources.

Here’s a sampling of English-language works from India that are worth checking out.

This Is How I Draw: Seven Artists, Seven Sketchbooks

Each of the beloved artists featured here offers advice and shares their sources of inspiration and working process in a couple of two-page spreads. The diverse styles and approaches make this a visual delight that will inspire creativity and confidence, and the book concludes with blank pages that readers can fill in. Ogin Nayam, who charmingly introduces himself as being as tall as a juniper shrub, presents dreamy sketches and watercolors—a house on stilts so high that father can collect water from clouds and mother can pick fruit from treetops. In doodled scenes, Priya Kuriyan goes about her day, borrowing ideas from ordinary sights that come together in an exuberant, imaginative scene of riotous color.

The Girl Who Was a Forest: Janaki Ammal

This compact, accessible volume is an entry in Karthik’s Dreamers series, which introduces readers to the childhoods of notable Indian figures. Janaki Ammal (1897-1984) faced barriers of caste and gender on her path to becoming a noted scientist who did pioneering botanical work, helped save Kerala’s Silent Valley (a tropical forest with abundant flora and fauna), and was awarded one of the country’s highest government honors. The evocative, detailed artwork brings the early-20^th-century setting to life, including Ammal’s childhood home of Thalassery on the Arabian Sea and the rich bird life of the mangrove forests where she and her father spent peaceful hours. The absorbing and inspiring text is followed by a few paragraphs describing Ammal’s later achievements.

We Hope: Children on Climate Change

Children everywhere love the natural world—and fear for its survival. This passionate book combines reflections from schoolchildren across India, illustrations by over a dozen artists, and clear text offering additional context, reinforcing how interconnected we are by the climate crisis. For example, 16-year-old Abhivakti Mishra, from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, says that “climate change is the alarming result of human greed.” Her observation is paired with Rangarajan’s explanation of the impact of global warming on rising seas, which will force the inhabitants of many islands to become climate refugees. Prabha Mallya’s dramatic full-page spread shows both damage (plastic water bottles polluting the water) and hopeful action (people working together to plant mangrove trees).

The Blue Horse and Other Amazing Animals From Indian History

This collection of animal tales, which won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Bal Puraskar from India’s National Academy of Letters, collects eight animal stories from various eras in Indian history (plus a short, appended assortment of global tales). The animals—mostly dogs, but cheetahs, horses, an elephant, and a parrot appear, too—narrate their stories in an inviting, chatty manner, and Sengupta trusts her young readers to handle material that is often poignant or even tragic. Damini’s attractive greyscale illustrations inject drama and elegance. The deep love and devotion between the animals and their people will leave an indelible mark on readers’ hearts. A brief note follows each entry, describing the sources and explaining any fictionalized content.

Left-Out Paru

This work, part of the hOle series of early chapter books, introduces Paru, who’s left-handed and struggles in a world made for right-handed people. At school she’s stuck seated beside her nemesis, teacher’s pet Nina. And what’s with all the negative connotations attached to the word “left”? Paru has had enough! Whether it’s asking her teachers pesky questions about right and left, or “replacing all the right words with left,” or challenging Nina to an arm-wrestling duel, Paru just wants to make everything right. Er, that is, left. The lefty duo of author Vachharajani and illustrator Eipe boost interest and support reading comprehension through fast-paced, witty text that’s complemented and extended by humorous illustrations.

About Laura Simeon

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