Rahul felt strong, confident and clear. He also saw something much larger. The old man's words rang in Rahul's ears. "Be Calm - Your wish is its command". Every day was a new day. Every Match began with an opportunity. Each ball was there to be struck.

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

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.

Aadya looks just like her mother (Aai) same little nose, same delicate ears, same big eyes and identical thick, long hair. But one day, Aai goes away to a big hospital with a promise to return before she learns her next Math lesson. The long-awaited return shocks Aadya because her mother now looks entirely unlike her. She wonders if Aai will ever greet her with her usual cheery, "Hello! Mini-me." Or will She have to take matters into her own hands to hear that again? With lyrical prose and a tender touch, Aai and I is an empowering story about the bond between a mother and a daughter and of the little one finding her own identity as she no longer 'looks' the same as her mother. Mamta Nainy captures Elan Aadya's innocence, impatience, and dilemma, and Sanket Pethkar's vibrant, gorgeous artwork brings to life the nuanced see-saw of the child's emotions in this Maharashtrian household.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rhea and Dia are inseparable soulmates. But when Isha moves in next door, their friendship goes through trying times. Will Rhea, Dia and Isha become three best pals? And who is that boy always lurking in the background? Richa Jha weaves a clever, believable story of the typical joys, thrills, conflicts, jealousies, patch ups and all the bitter sweet stuff friendships are made of. Alicia Souza's feisty and utterly playful artwork and hand-etched letterings add a charming quirkiness to this delightful story.

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.

Little Shilu loves to dance around naked. She wants to be like the animals; like Pirate, her cat. When her grandmother Nannu says she can't because she is now a big girl, Shilu gets down to understanding why she can't. Peppered with Nannu's loving chiding, intimate grandma-granddaughter bonding over conversations, and a heart-to-heart between the mother and this little inquisitive daughter, this book is a reflection of the wild and free nature of childhood. Rhuchi Mhasane's soft evocative illustrations rendered in pencil with watercolour, and put together digitally, create a dreamlike charm. Richa Jha's gentle, affectionate and lyrical text takes the reader into the mind of the little girl who can't wait to get the answers to her 'Why can't I?'

Lonely Sid wasn't always a tree. But the day he misses saving a soccer goal at school, things change for him. He wakes up the next morning to discover he is no more the boy he used to be. With an entire ecosystem hovering above him, he finds himself transformed into one of those brainless trees that he so detests. Will he ever be back to being Sid again? And will his loneliness end? Srividhya Venkat spins a delectable fantasy tale around thinking twice about what you wish for, or not, and about how Sid's lonely changes. Nayantara Surendranath adds more quirkiness to the story with her eccentric combination of art collage and digital creation.

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.

THE MIDDLE is the story of Azma's journey from being an insatiable reader to becoming a contemplative writer. And through the course of this restless quest, she fights, in her head, the dark, formidable demons of taunting part-truths. Eva Sanchez Gomez creates a visual world which is at once intense and menacing, as it is calming and quieting. Richa Jha's lyrical text brings out Azma's disquiet within and the unease outside. Together, they have birthed a book that is an achingly beautiful tribute to any soul-searching creative process.

So you want a pet – any pet – and your mommy says NO. And so, you try your luck with Daddy, but dear, oh dear, he gets it all wrong! What will you do?

Challenging the conventional views of motherhood that reduce moms to a rule-bound gendered identity and role, Mommies will encourage readers to explore and question their own as well as larger social norms. Richa Jha delivers a strong statement through the simplicity of children’s voices, presenting a kaleidoscope of vastly different mothers who don’t fit the stereotypical narratives of motherhood. Priya Sebastian’s bold, charcoal-etched images infuse the simple narrative with an arresting depth to capture the diverse beauty of each portrayal.

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.

Ammachi can’t find her glasses one morning and everything goes topsy-turvy! Page after page spills with drama, humour, detail and local flavour as Priya Kuriyan spins a hilarious tale about a crazy day with unforgettable Ammachi — “the archetypal grandmother from memories of my own childhood in Kerala,” as Priya says. The celebrated illustrator is at her best in her first wordless picture book.