Homegrown children’s books are not a new phenomenon, but they are certainly coming into their own. With several Indian publishers celebrating their twentieth anniversaries this year, and with a new award to celebrate the achievements of Indie publishers, there’s never been a better time than now, to buy local when it comes to books for the little tykes.
LBB’s loving
Tara Books
Readers’ vote
Tulika Publishers
There was a time when ACK was the only Indian children’s publisher, and a whole generation grew up on these comics. Best known for mythology and Indian folktales, Amar Chitra Katha {works out of Bangalore} also publishes biographies (from Gandhi to Jim Corbett), fables, classical literature and stories from Indian history.
Shop for Amara Chitra Katha online here.
Price: INR 50 upwards
Find them on Facebook here.
Having just celebrated its twentieth anniversary, The Chennai-based Tulika is one of the country’s longest standing children’s publishers. With the tagline Many Languages, Many Voices, Tulika is best known for bilingual books, and for publishing in multiple Indian languages. We love that their authors and illustrators regularly hold fun events for kids countrywide, and that you can pick up customised birthday gift sets. Plus, their current crop of gender neutral books, gets a thumbs up from us.
Where: Available at all major bookstores and online here.
Price: INR 55 upwards
Find them on Facebook here.
Tara has made experimenting with the form of the book a trademark – from hand silkscreen printed books, to scroll books and textile books. The Indian children’s publisher from Chennai best-known in international circles, rights to the books have been sold worldwide, and Tara even won the Best Children’s Publisher Award {Asia} at the Bologna Book Fair in 2013. Look up the recent release Knock Knock! which unfolds before you to tell the tale of a lost bear.
Where: Available at all major bookstores and also available online here.
Price: INR 150 upwards
Find them on Facebook here.
Another Chennai-based publisher celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, Karadi has been innovative from the beginning, and pioneered Indian audio books. There is now a series featuring well-known narrators, called Will You Read with Me.Digital is a new avenue, and apart from the beautifully-produced picture books, Karadi has iPad apps and videobooks to play on the computer.
Shop online here.
Price: INR 175 upwards
Find them on Facebook here.
Started as a magazine for underprivileged children in 1988, Katha is not just a publisher, but also an NGO, working in the field of literacy and education. Its books are multicultural, multilingual and inclusive. Apart from providing a platform for Indian authors and artists, Katha has bought rights to classic children’s fiction such as A Lion in Paris, producing copies which are much more affordable than the imported alternative!
Where: Available at all major bookstores
Price: INR 80 upwards
Find them on Facebook here.
Check out their website here.
Great design and production makes Bengaluru’s Little Latitude books {most of which are sturdy board books} stand out. Started in 2010 by husband-and-wife-team Vinay Diddee and Neha Vasant-Diddee, the range began with art for apparel, but quickly moved onto books. Many of the books {including the most recent releases What Can You Do with Red, Yellow and Blue and While I’m Away} have been illustrated in stunning style by watercolour artist Prashant Miranda.
Shop for Little Latitude books online here.
Price: INR 375 upwards
Fine them on Facebook here.
Taking inspiration from the Eklavya legend in the Mahabharata, this NGO {based out of Bhopal} works to develop and test progressive educational strategies. The publishing programme supports this work, and Eklavya has some charming, inexpensive books, including Bumboo: The Donkey Who Would Not Budge, which recently won best story {in the picture book category} at the inaugural Hindu Young World-Good Books award. Eklavya also runs a year-long certificate course for picture book illustrators.
Shop for Eklavya books online here.
Price: INR 25 upwards
Find them on Facebook here.
All credit to not-for-profit publisher Pratham Books {Bangalore-based} for its vision to get ‘a book in every child’s hand’. To that end, it has produced titles which retail for as little as INR 4 and harnessed the power of social media to find ‘reading champions’ who are willing to hold book readings in far-flung locations countrywide. The latest innovation is StoryWeaver, an online platform of multilingual stories and illustrations, which allows anyone to access, translate and redistribute the material.
Where: Shop Pratham Books online here.
Price: INR 4 upwards {storycards}, INR 35 average book price
Find them on Facebook here.
Kalpavriksh is an environmental trust, and a love of the natural environment shines through in its small list. Learn about leopard conservation in The Ghost of the Mountains, or the creatures who make their home in the Kachchh district in Khari: Journeys Through Kachchh.
Where: Lightroom Bookstore, 1, Lewis Road, Cooke Town
Price: INR 100 upwards
Check out their website here.
The new kid on the Indian children’s book publishing scene, Pickle Yolk Books emerged out of Richa Jha’s book review blog Snuggle with Picture Books. The first titles were published in 2013, with The Unboy Boy making waves for dealing with gender identity in an Indian context. Pickle Yolk Books are hardbound beauties and there are three more titles hitting the shelves next month.
Where: Shop online via Flipkart.com and Amazon.in
Price: INR 300 upwards
Find them on Facebook here.
Check out their website here.
The children’s wing of feminist publisher Zubaan Books, Young Zubaan traces its roots back to 2004, and since then has published everything from picture books to Young Adult fiction. In recent years the list has gained a particular reputation for excellent middle grade fiction – which is always tricky to pull off. Dear Mrs. Naidu by Mathangi Subramanianan is absolutely worth a read, for the young at heart as well as the young!
Where: Shop for Young Zubaan books online here.
Price: INR 120 upwards
Find them on Facebook here.
The children’s imprint of Rupa Publications, some of India’s best-known authors {including Samit Basu and Ruskin Bond} write for Red Turtle. This publisher caters to kids from the age of eight upwards, and as well as fiction you’ll find short stories, poetry and quiz books. Plus, one of our favourite illustrated books from India – the gorgeous The Alphabet of Animals and Birds by illustrator and writer Prabha Mallya.
Where: At all major bookstores and online via Flipkart.com and Amazon.in
Price: INR 150 upwards.
Find them on Facebook here.
A collaboration between children’s book writer Anushka Ravishankar, and children’s book editor Sayoni Basu, Duckbill books began in 2012 – to fill the massive gap in the market for chapter books and Young Adult fiction written by Indian authors. The ‘hOle’ books series (the books literally have a hole in the top corner of the cover!), are fun, and Duckbill has also done some interesting historical fiction. Extra kudos for branching out into little-explored issues like mental health, sexuality and special needs, in books like Talking of Muskaan and new release Simply Nanju.
Where: Duckbill’s books are available to buy on Flipkart here and Amazon here.
Price: INR 125 upwards
Find them on Facebook here.
Check out their website here.
Best known as an arts publisher, Kolkata-based Seagull Books also has a small list for children – distinguished by a series of fables illustrated and written by KG Subramanyan, which are as quirky as they are irreverent. It also has English translations of well-known Bengali writers, including Mahasweta Devi.
Where: Check out their website here to shop online.
Price: INR 75 upwards
Find them on Facebook here.
