कोव्हिड-19चा प्रसार रोखण्यासाठी सन 2020मध्ये लागू झालेल्या देशव्यापी टाळेबंदीमुळे लाखो मजूर बेरोजगार, उपाशी आणि बेघर बनले. यामुळे असाहाय्य आणि आणि लाचार झालेल्या बहुतेकांनी मृत्यूला कवटाळणार्‍या प्रवासाला सुरुवात करत घरी परतण्यासाठीचा रस्ता धरला. अशाच रितेश, आशिष, रामबाबू, सोनू, कृष्णा, संदीप आणि मुकेश हे सर्व बिहारचे स्थलांतरित मजूर यांनीसुद्धा असा प्रवास सायकलवरून सुरू केला. त्यांचा वेदनादायक प्रवास उत्तर प्रदेशमधील गाझियाबादपासून सुरू झाला आणि त्यांच्या मातृभूमी असलेल्या बिहारमधील सहरसापर्यंत चालला. यादरम्यान पोलिसांच्या काठ्या आणि त्यांनी केलेले अपमान, उपासमार, थकवा आणि भीती यांच्याशी त्यांनी लढा दिला. या सर्वांचे दस्तऐवजीकरण या पुस्तकात लेखक विनोद कापरी यांनी केलं आहे. 1232 किमी ही अनंत संकटांत सापडलेल्या सात पुरुषांच्या असाधारण धैर्याची कहाणी आहे.

कोरोना के कारण 2020 में घोषित लॉकडाउन ने करोड़ों भारतीयों को अकल्पनीय त्रासदी का सामना करने के लिए विवश कर दिया। नगरों-महानगरों में कल-कारखानों पर ताले लटक गए; काम-धन्धे रुक गए और दर-दुकानें बन्द हो गईं। इससे मजदूर एक झटके में बेरोजगार, बेसहारा हो गए। मजबूरन उन्हें अपने गाँवों का रुख करना पड़ा। उनका यह पलायन भारतीय जनजीवन का ऐसा भीषण दृश्य था, जैसा देश-विभाजन के समय भी शायद नहीं देखा गया था। लॉकडाउन के कारण आवागमन के रेल और बस जैसे साधन बन्द थे, इसलिए अधिकतर मजदूरों को अपने गाँव जाने के लिए डेढ़-दो हजार किलोमीटर की दूरी पैदल तय करनी पड़ी। कुछेक ही ऐसे थे जो इस सफर के लिए साइकिल जुटा पाए थे। ‘1232km : कोरोना काल में एक असम्भव सफ़र’ ऐसे ही सात प्रवासी मजदूरों की गाँव वापसी का आँखों देखा वृत्तान्त है। उन्होंने दिल्ली से सटे गाजियाबाद (उत्तर प्रदेश) से अपना सफ़र शुरू किया, जहाँ से सहरसा (बिहार) स्थित उनका गाँव 1232 किलोमीटर दूर था। उनके पास साइकिलें थीं लेकिन उनका सफ़र कतई आसान नहीं था। पुलिस की पिटाई और अपमान ही नहीं, भय, थकान और भूख ने भी उनका कदम-कदम पर इम्तिहान लिया। फिर भी वे अपने मकसद में कामयाब रहे। यह किताब सात साधारण लोगों के असाधारण जज़्बे की कहानी है, जो हमें उन कठिनाइयों, उपेक्षाओं और लाचारी से भी रू-ब-रू करती है, जिनका सामना भारत के करोड़ों-करोड़ लोगों को रोज करना पड़ता है।

The book tells the story of Lalu and his red kite in wondrous colours. The kite is Lalu’s love and he is ready to go to any length to keep the kite with him.

The old snake is punished – the frogs will now ride on him. The frogs jump for joy – but they had better watch out! This unusual bilingual retelling of a Panchatantra favourite swings sympathy in favour of the snake. Stunning pictures are based on wooden folk toys from Channapatna in Karnataka, a craft style that came centuries ago from Persia.

Moyna lives in a little tribal village. She cannot go to school because she has to tend goats, collect firewood, fetch water… But she is so full of questions that the postmaster calls her the ‘why-why girl'! In this inspiring and delightful story, her first picture book, acclaimed Jnanpith award-winning writer Mahasweta Devi tells us how she meets Moyna (and her mongoose) and helps her find answers to all the why-whys – in books, that Moyna herself learns to read. Some of the translations have been done by well-known writers: Malayalam by Paul Zacharia, Tamil by Ambai, and Kannada by Girish Karnad. CBSE recommended

After a school trip to the zoo, Amma is surprised that Meera has seen no animals – not a monkey, a lion, or even a giraffe... But why did Meera see no animals there? Her lively mother forgets to ask! Zestful pictures capture the hilarious inversion of role play.

When a herd of elephants creates trouble in the jungle, do the little rabbits run away in fear? No! From Aztec to Chinese, there are many versions of the story about the rabbit in the moon. The illustrations for this bilingual retelling are based on the pithora folk style of central India, which derives from cave art.

Mati pesters her grandmother and father for her own plot of land. When she does get it, she works hard. And then she hears that a company wants to make a coal mine in their village – the enormous black pit that will eat up all their lands, like it has in the next village… As always, Rinchin powers her questions through irresistible storytelling. The little girl’s anxiety about losing her land to “a monster machine” cuts close to the heart as it takes head-on an issue that is ravaging tribal Chhattisgarh, where this story is set, and every other place where there is ‘development’ at a cost.

It’s the day of the local market in Malli’s village. Cotton candy, peanut balls, stick ice, rose soda – there’s so much for Malli and her friends to try! But some of them don’t have enough money. Then, Malli has an idea… Friendship and sharing are at the heart of this third book in the Malli series, with pictures that take you around a village in Tamil Nadu and into the bustle of a market filled with treats.

Yak yak yak... the tortoise loves to talk – and learns the hard way that keeping his mouth shut is sometimes very necessary! The clipped narrative style pares the original fable from the Panchatantra down to its essence with dramatic effect in this bilingual retelling. It is offset by decorative, detailed illustrations in the style of kalamkari textiles from Andhra Pradesh.

It’s Monday morning. Time for school. And his model of the earth…? Chintu Chitnis suddenly remembers he hasn’t made it! There’s a last-minute scramble to finish the project, with his little sister Pihu pitching in not very helpfully. And then, in school, Chintu finds an entire continent missing! Where did it go? Set in a Konkani household, this light and humorous story with playful pictures is a quick first introduction to the continents of the world.

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.

Dhum Dhum Dhum… dhup dhup dhup… Dungi dances to a dhinchak beat in this foot-tapping story that will make young readers move and groove, clap and tap! Big sheep, small sheep, bored sheep, happy sheep… eye-catching visuals bring to life the dance and drama in a woolly world.

Muthu’s constant companion is a rooster called Goondi. But her grandfather tells her not to get too attached to Goondi, since he belongs to Selvi Paati. And the village head wants to buy him for his son’s wedding feast… Muthu can’t bear the thought! So, she makes her move and Thatha makes his, in this tender story about what a dear friend is worth. Pictures add richness and depth to this layered narrative set in an Irula fishing village in Tamil Nadu. Their varying tones and textures capture the setting, the people and the moments.

Ilham has a problem. Her Papa has given her a crisp fifty rupee note for her birthday, and she doesn’t know where to keep it absolutely safe. A pocket would be best, but her new frock doesn’t have one. So she runs to Salma Chachi the tailor to get a pocket stitched — but that leads to another problem. A charming little nugget of a story with the flavour of old Hyderabad captured warmly in the pictures!

There is a BIG monster that only Montu can see, that shows up whenever he’s angry or sad, and makes him even more angry, even more sad. One day, when he hurts his leg and is stuck at home, he starts to draw. He draws the window, the tree outside and… the monster! But as he keeps drawing, the monster gets smaller and smaller. What’s happening? Pictures and text gently tell this story of a boy who learns to deal with his inner demons, illustrating how art can heal.

Boodabim floats in the sky, he swims in the ocean and he simply glows in stripes! Who is he? A cloud? A fish? A tiger? Boodabim can be anything he wants to be! Minimal text and rollicking illustrations make this a most endearing book for little ones.

It’s a hot, hot day. Shouting people, thirsty puppies, honking cars – everyone is rushing to get away from the heat, except for one big cow… How will they all cool off? Crisp text, and furiously frantic illustrations, capture the chaos and cacophony of a scorching summer day.

Roll it, pat it, poke in eyes, stick on nose and ears — and a ball of chapati dough can turn into almost anything! The endearing illustrations follow the quirks of a child's imagination.

Playtime on the terrace takes a turn when a strong wind sweeps Chhotu off his feet and carries him up and away to the clouds and the birds! The light and lively illustrations whirl us to the sky and back.