About
Book Details
Everyone asks,
What do you want to be?
But Gawa only knows
What he wants to do.
About the Hook Book Series
In a world where children’s books often feel cut from the same cloth, Hook Books stand out as a vibrant blend of imagination, humour, and heart. Crafted as a bridge between picture books and early chapter books, this series delivers stories that spark joy and wonder, while remaining rooted in age-appropriate learning.
Hook Books keep the fun going with:
Short, digestible bits of text (perfect for budding readers)
Bright colour illustrations that pull kids into the story
Themes that speak to the everyday lives of children—plus a sprinkle of whimsy!
From fantasy tales to those that touch on more advanced ideas, Hook Books ensure that young readers are always in for a treat, no matter their reading level. Even better, these books take children on journeys through different parts of India, giving them a taste of the rich diversity of our world through local flavours, landscapes, and cultures. Whether the story takes place in bustling cities or quiet villages, Hook Books make every setting feel like home.
ISBN: 9780143465270
Pages: 40
Avg Reading Time: 1 hrs
Age: 0-11
Country of Origin: India
Malainagarin Vannachuvargal
- Author Name:
Shyamala Shanmugasundaram
- Book Type:
- Description: Soori loves to draw and paint. But where he lives now with his mother is a rundown neighbourhood, unclean, unsafe and completely colourless! He wants to move away, but knows they can’t. He wishes that colours would rain down and brighten the buildings. A few days later, Soori finds himself amidst painters, paint cans and brushes! What’s going on? Painterly pictures echo real textures in a story about trying to bring colour and hope into a community.
Lalu and the Red Kite
- Author Name:
Ashish Sengupta
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: Awaited
The Rooster That Would Not Crow
- Author Name:
Cheryl Rao
- Book Type:
- Description: Our rooster came when he was small With bristly crest and comb and all… We watched him strut, we watched him grow, And waited – waited – for him to crow. But this young rooster simply refuses to. Until one momentous day in his life – when he lays an egg, and the kuk-roo-kooos burst out of him! Lilting verse rides us jauntily along, bringing us to a sudden head on with this most unusual situation. Or is it so strange, after all? And does it matter? A cleverly spun allegorical tale with joyous pictures that is about facing, and embracing, possible gender realities.
Panch Pairon Wali Hathi
- Author Name:
Piyush Sekseriya
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: ये कुदरत से प्रेम की कहानियाँ हैं। पीयूष सेकसेरिया कहते हैं कि जंगल, पेड़-पौधे, जानवरी, पक्षी, कीट-पतंगों, नदी, पहाड़, रेत-मिट्टी और लोगों में कुछ ऐसा है कि मैं उन तक बार-बार लौटता हूँ। एक अजब सी खुशी है जो उनको देखने, सुनने, सूँघने, छूने से मिलती है। ‘पाँच पैरों वाली हाथी’ से उन्होंने इन खुशियों को सबके साथ बाँटा है। किताब की रचनाएँ कल्पनाओं से अधिक सरस और रोमांचक हैं।
More Short Stories for Children
- Author Name:
Shefali Mullick +4
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: Collection of 18 short stories for children of age group 10-15 years and written by multiple writers.
Autorickshaw Blues and Other Colours
- Author Name:
Sadhana Ramchander +2
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: This great book by a mother-daughter team is all about you! A refreshing look at the parent-child relationship, through poems.
Secret Wild Vet Kalyani
- Author Name:
Geeta Dharmarajan +1
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: Secret Wild Vet Kalyani is a book inspired by N Kalyani, Tamil Nadu’s first woman veterinarian who graduated from Madras Veterinary College in 1952, challenging gender norms within the profession. Through a cheerful poem set in the Nilgiri hills, the author and Katha’s Founder President Geeta Dharmarajan imagines her Irular protagonist as a kind of superwoman who helps rescue animals, birds and reptiles in danger. Filled with everything from guns to ropes and jungle antics, this adventure story truly comes alive with the help of lively illustrations by designer Boski Jain. According to the book, the DNA analysis (2018) of a skeleton from the Indus Valley Civilisation found in Rakhigarhi showed greater affinity with the Irula people than any other ethnic group in India. “A study by Yelmen et al (2019) found that the Irula were the closest likely proxy for the indigenous “AASI”, or Ancient Ancestral South Indian, one of the presumed founders and autochthonous original populations,” informs the book.
Ma Ganga And The Razai Box
- Author Name:
Geeta Dharmarajan +1
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: A delightful story that combines mythology and contemporary thought. The book weaves environmental concerns like pollution, soil erosion and desertification, with mythology.
Fu-Ku Alien - Kannada - English - Bilingual
- Author Name:
Jagadish Joshi
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: An exciting story of an alien (Fu-Ku) who comes to visit the Earth and meets a bird. There he observes how the use of firearms and bombs is destroying the beauty of the earth-birds and animals are getting equally affected by this hostile environment.
Daddy's Mo
- Author Name:
Madhuri Purandare
- Book Type:
- Description: What does Anu like the most about her dad? His Mo! Do you know what a Mo is? Actually, Anu likes everyone with a Mo. So much so that when she sees a Mo, she gets funny ideas!
Thangam Of Mehrgarh
- Author Name:
Geeta Dharmarajan +1
- Book Type:
- Description: Meet a friend from the Indus Valley! Thangam lived 9000 years ago and was part of a great civilization. Yet, she was just like you ñ dreamy, restless and wanting to do everything all at once.
Dubki Ke Liye Ghar
- Author Name:
Priya Narayanan
- Book Type:
- Description: Yasmin’s home is a tin box, burning hot in summer and freezing cold in winter. But Dubki, her stray dog friend, has no home at all. How unfair! So Yasmin decides to build one for Dubki, just like she has seen her Ammi and Abbu build for others. A heart-tugging story on a child’s idea of home, centred round a family of migrant workers who construct big houses while living in hovels themselves, displaced and longing for their own home far away. Told in the voice of little Yasmin, it speaks straight to the child reader. Illustrations evoke a gentle glow of joy and hope.
A Bite Before Christmas
- Author Name:
Swarnavo Datta +1
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: In the weeks before Christmas, Mom lovingly crafts twelve jumbo marzipans, each a sugary masterpiece. Not to be eaten until Christmas Eve, she puts them away in a tin. But when Kyra and Grandpa playfully mix up their tasks, mischief ensues. Nandita da Cunha writes a wondrous story of the whimsical chaos of Christmas, enfolded in the bright illustrations by Swarnavo Datta.
My Big Book of Fun with Friends (Vol 1)
- Author Name:
Geeta Dharmarajan
- Book Type:
- Description: Introducing the Ultimate Adventure FunBook for 7-10 Year Olds! Tired of saying “I’m bored!”? Fear not! Dive into this action-packed FunBook where you, the intrepid adventurer, solve mobius strip twists, launch a colony club, and as reader-leaders, challenge yourself daily. What’s Inside? Cool mazes, thought-provoking Big Ideas, and mind-bending puzzles play hide and seek inside your brain making you a more curious, creative, critical thinker! Whether you’re a girl, a boy, or an elephant lover, there’s something for everyone! Be sure to look out for tips on how you can be a reader-leader! Why ChooseOur FunBook? Our 35 years of expertise: This book is crafted by seasoned adventurers who know what makes young minds tick. Discover India! Explore the magic of India’s diversity. Meet families like yours and those who live in completely different worlds. Katha’s storybooks aren’t just friends; they’re wonderland guides. Discover our books through this FunBook! Unlock Big Ideas! Scan the QR code inside to explore fabulous books that’ll transform you into a kind, empathetic, and resilient person. Parents and grandparents, get ready to TADAA! To Think. Ask. Discuss. Act. And Achieve a goal! Spend hours bonding with your little adventurers!
One's Own, Yet Different
- Author Name:
Meena Kakodkar +1
- Book Type:
- Description: This book reads as softly as a lullaby and as provocatively as a stereotype smashing handbook. A good read for younger teens about unfair proscriptions placed on young girls and how to spot and kick them aside, step by step. “Challenging the prevailing constructs of gender in society, all the stories conclude with open-ended questions that encourage young readers to engage in thinking and have a dialogue within a peer group.” — Scroll.in “This book gives you the motivation to bring changes in society, however small it may be, so that everyone gets equal rights and opportunities.” — Hindustan Times For age 10+
Vee Loved Garlic
- Author Name:
Richa Jha
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: 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.
Farmer Falgu Goes Kite Flying
- Author Name:
Chitra Soundar +1
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: Farmer Falgu’s trips never go smoothly. In this third book of the series, he is on his way to the annual kite-flying festival with his daughter, Eila. But…. Whoosh! She loses her kite to the strong wind. Will our ingenious Farmer Falgu come up with a solution to make his daughter happy
Gajapati Kulapati-Dhaas Poos Bhooos!
- Author Name:
Ashok Rajagopalan
- Book Type:
- Description: After his big-big sneeze, Gajapati Kulapati is back with a SPLASH! Like the very popular first book, sounds, rhythm, and repetition make this too a perfect read aloud for little ones.
Hungry on the steps
- Author Name:
Nandini Nayar
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: Details awaited
Asha the Auto-Driver
- Author Name:
Aruna Shekar
- Rating:
- Book Type:
- Description: Asha’s first trip in her colourful auto every morning is to the flower market, where she buys a big bag of jasmine buds. Follow her through the week and through the city, as she picks up and drops off passengers at the railway station, the beach, the cricket stadium… stringing and selling jasmine all the way. Vibrant pictures liven up the route and offer snapshots of a city – Chennai!
