When Gopu's father (Baba) falls sick, the visually impaired Gopu knows he would have to step out alone. He negotiates the crowds, the markets and the traffic of the city of Calcutta, all by himself, to reach his grandma's house to get her to cook Baba's favourite fish curry. Does he succeed in bringing it home to him? In this book, Richa Jha writes as much about the courage of Gopu as she does about the sounds and smells of a bustling metropolis. Sumanta Dey brings alive the city of Calcutta between the covers of this book and makes the readers feel they are walking alongside Gopu.

ìDarkness is alive,î Patti says. ìAnd we, the Irulas, are keepers of darkness.î Inspired by the indigenous wisdom and resilience of the Irulas, one of the oldest Adivasi communities of India, a book that is a lyrical ode to the deep dark forests and the lives intertwined with them.

Join Guddu as she takes you on a tour through the heartland of Mithila. Simple joys of life gain brilliant colours with Mithila painter Shanti Devi’s striking imagery. Guddu’s warm-hearted and humorous narrative will make your lips curl to bring a smile. “Minimal text and vibrant illustrations by an accomplished Madhubani artist presents a great opportunity for children to look at and discuss with a parent or a teacher, or, maybe just soak it all in themselves.” — Young India Books “A wonderful attempt by Katha to bring such folk art in prominence and to give the proficient artists the respect and fame that they so rightly deserve.” — Literary Sojourn

It is Grandparents Day at school, and everyone is excited. Not little Oviyam, who is embarrassed at the thought of her schoolmates seeing her grandfather Thatha in a dhoti, a traditional wrap-around lower. She tries her best to convince him to skip the event but he insists on attending. Will Oviyam rise above her insecurities and own up to her dhoti-wearing Thatha in front of everyone? Richa Jha's light, breezy words, along with Gautam Benegal's soft playful colour palettes and vividly illustrated frames help the reader both empathise with Oviyam's fears and strongly hope for her baseless insecurities to rid her troubled mind.

Mom and Dad completely lose the plot the day the Wifi stops working in the house. In a role reversal of sorts, it's up to little Shivi to get her bored and tantrum-throwing parents to see that there is a perfectly wonderful life to be enjoyed beyond their screen craze. Mithila Ananth's zany, whimsical digital illustrations with a minimal neat colour palette and a touch of quiet humour throw into sharp focus Richa Jha's funny story done as a second person narrative. Together, they draw the reader right into the centre of this book's relatable universe.

Join Guddu and her little animal friends as she takes you on a tour through her enchanting world, armed with a little imagination and a gift for seeing the absurd in the trivial. Gudduís warm-hearted and humorous narrative brings to life the characters of her village from her unique childlike perspective. An unforgettable experience!

There's a story Giggi's daddy tells her every day. It's about a little bit of this and a little bit of that and a whole lot of everything. And it all begins when Giggi wasn't even born. Dig into this charming, chucklesome book that has oodles of daddy-daughter love. Richa Jha spins an endearing maze of believable tall tales and cuteness overload. Mithila Ananth's uncluttered frames with impish illustrations and exceptional visual comic timing leave the reader craving more.

ìDarkness is alive,î Patti says. ìAnd we, the Irulas, are keepers of darkness.î Inspired by the indigenous wisdom and resilience of the Irulas, one of the oldest Adivasi communities of India, a book that is a lyrical ode to the deep dark forests and the lives intertwined with them.

Ever feel stuck in the same routine every day? So did a little ant named Antara! Tired of the ordinary, she decided it was time for a change—something exciting, something bold. Join Antara on a delightful adventure and discover where her curiosity leads her. You never know what surprises await just around the corner! This beautiful story not only takes readers on Antara’s exciting journey but also introduces the fascinating homes and nests of different insects along the way. With its blend of adventure and learning, it’s a perfect read for young minds—and an excellent addition to any school classroom or library!

Do you know that there were once seven cities within the city of Delhi? Can you imagine that Delhi once ran a tram service? Have you ever heard about the drool-worthy sixteen-layered paratha that you get only in Delhi? Can you believe that Delhi runs the largest fleet of environment-friendly buses? All of this and a lot more abound in this anything-but-typical travel book for the young. Just like the city of Delhi, there’s nothing ordinary about it!

Small noses catch small colds. Big noses catch big colds. Gajapati Kulapati the elephant has a big nose and catches a great, big, mighty cold! And what happens when he sneezes – Aaaaachoooo….? With repetitive sounds and words that roll rhythmically through the pages, this bestselling series about the adorable elephant puts the zing back into storytelling and reading aloud. Bright, zestful pictures and dynamic visual text echo the lilt, making these big, happy books of fun.

Akela Lekhan Coot is a writer who desires peace and quiet. He believes that the noise on his street is preventing him from being imaginative. So, he decides to leave the constant commotion and seeks solitude. Will the silence help him find the inspiration he needs to write his story? Through Ruchi Shah's stunning artwork and Richa Jha's poetic writing, Akela encourages readers to reflect on whether isolation is necessary for creativity or whether community life is needed to inspire it. The book explores various themes, including isolation, escapism, community living, creative blocks, creative enablers, self-discovery, and transcendence. It also touches upon the idea that people shape us, and we shape them. Picture Book Author: Richa Jha Illustrator: Ruchi Shah

A book by Jagdish Joshi and translated by Kanchan Wanchoo Sharma.

Little Kroo and Mamma Hop travel to different natural habitats around the world where Kroo is fascinated by new ways of parent-young one bonding. But why doesn't his Mamma love him like that? What will get him to believe what she always says - that she may not love him like that, but she loves him the most in this world? In this simple, elegantly told story, Richa Jha touches upon the one existential doubt every child's mind faces at one point or another. The gentle pace of the book is in sharp contrast to the sheer scale of globe-trotting that the Mamma-baby duo are engaged in. Lyrical prose, a lilting assuring refrain, and adorable animals make this book a perfect bedtime read. Gautam Benegal brings to life the landscapes with his magic brush strokes, each transporting the reader thousands of miles away to the real world of animals in their beautiful habitats.

Duster the dog is more of a cat. He loves the naps, the flaps, and the fish. And he doesn't like to announce arrivals, to play fetch, and to dig for bones. Especially, certainly, not the bones. His human craves dog love. Will the two ever be right for each other? Richa Jha narrates with brevity and humour a tiny, universal tale of love and companionship (and expectations) that is sure to strike a chord with the readers. Neeti Banerji's endearing frames are chocked full of details with Easter eggs and parallel threads to add to the re-readability of the story. The minimal palette and simple character shapes - Duster is essentially an oblong with legs - work with the highly detailed line-art to engage and not overwhelm.

When Noorie's sister Zoya dies, everything in Noorie's world becomes silent. She knows her sister has gone forever. But what's with Mummy's silly lies that Zoya will always be around, by their side? And what is she to do about Zoya's best friend Dhara, who just won't leave Noorie alone? Boo! When My Sister Died is a story about finding strength in love and loss. Gautam Benegal blends a playful watercolour and wash style with a sombre digital crosshatch to bring together warmth in the memories of the sisters' togetherness and the intensity of Noorie's grief. Richa Jha's spare and simple text keeps the story poignant, believable and full of hope.

A story about a poor boy and a rich boy and their pet dogs. It unravels the mystery of the deeds of the two dogs. Profusely illustrated by Arya Praharaj. (Age Group 6-8)

Big brothers are mean. Big brothers spell trouble. And Big Brothers are not to be trusted, especially if they turn your world upside down. That�s what the protagonist discovers one morning upon waking up. The book�s parallel worlds with their upside-downness and downside-upness weave a fantastic, troubled, creased co-existence, both exasperating and reassuring. Nothing is what it seems like. Read it as a quirky story of squabbling siblings or of something more global, more sinister; each page leaves us peeling multiple layers, especially in a world turned upside down by the pandemic. Ken Spillman adroitly plays around with words and situations both believable and unbelievable, while Silvana Giraldo spins a splendidly broken-but-beautiful world to bring alive a somewhat Orwellian dystopia into this picture book.

When Miss Vee Noonie falls in love with garlic, there is pandemonium in the house. She is a vampire, after all. Her parents do their best to urge her to stay away from it. Garlic, they tell her, is fatal for vampires. Freethinker Vee's research tells her that's not true and she leaves no stone unturned in convincing her folks. Does she succeed? Richa Jha celebrates a young thinking mind's spirit of inquisitiveness, questioning the given, persuasiveness and non-conformist free will in this pacey picture book that is packed with sharp dialogues, intense passion, and chic humour. The breathtaking sweep of Kunal Kundu's detailed etching and dramatic artwork lingers on till long after the book has been put aside.

Young Gagan is at ease being what he is: quiet, gentle, sensitive, and an animal and book lover. But his family and friends think of him as being not boy enough, and want to make him more boy-like. Gagan, however, has enough tricks up his sleeve to show the world that there are no boy-boys or unboy-boys. Just boys. And just girls. Gender stereotyping has strong under currents in the social fabric of India and in many cultures around the world. Richa Jha tackles this difficult subject with unburdened simplicity and lightness of tone. Gautam Benegal brings the characters to life with sensitivity and electrifying dynamism. His gentle and endearing water colours match the mood and pace of the story, making it an unforgettable read.