There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.
– Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Books can show children a different part of the world – one that exists beyond the the one they occupy – an important eye-opener for both children and adults. We’ve rounded up a list of books which give young readers a glimpse into parts of the country and the world which they might find unfamiliar, but which they are sure to find fascinating.
Okaasuma Otousama (Tulika Books)
Age: 2+
A joyful tribute to multilingualism that says Mother and Father in 18 different languages – from Japanese to Kikuyu, Spanish to Finnish, Tulu to Tagalog… In addictive rhythm, just waiting to be read aloud, the text reflects amazing similarities across far-flung languages, while the illustrations capture the multi-ethnic, multicultural spirit with sensitivity and skill.
Jafta (Katha Books)
Age: 2+
Meet Jafta, a little boy growing up in an African village, who describes some of his everyday moods and feelings by comparing his actions to those of various animals. Filled with vibrant illustrations and clever similes, the book will transport young readers to the beautiful environs of African wilderness. Early readers will find themselves reading aloud to this delightful story.
Aamu’s Kawandi (Katha Books)
Age: 4+
Aamu is a little Siddi girl from Karnataka who loves to collect interesting stories from around her village. She has stitched them together to make her own kind of quilt. Do you want to see it?
Treasures From Tibet (Katha Books)
Age: 4+
Homes – are they really special? What does it mean to belong? What makes one feel at home? Find out with this simple story of Pema and her Momo-ley as they uncover, share and cherish their secret treasures from places they call home.
Brownbox Roadtrip Series (Brownbox)
Age: 6+
The Roadtrip series is an interactive travel adventure full of fun activities. Each book takes you through a different country and introduces you to its sights, food, people, history and culture. Go on an armchair adventure to exciting new destinations! The three countries available in this series are Peru, Kenya and Italy.
The Why-Why Girl (Tulika Books)
Age: 6+
Moyna lives in a little tribal village. She cannot go to school because she has to tend the goats, collect the firewood, fetch the water… But she is so full of questions that the postmaster calls her the ‘why-why girl’!
Mahasweta Devi is one of India’s foremost writers. In this delightful story, her first picture book, and the only children’s book she has written in English, she 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.
Bumboo: The Donkey Who Would Not Budge (Eklavya Publications)
Age: 7+
Bumboo is a playful and loving donkey in Ladakh, adored by young Padma. As he grows up and the tourist season approaches, what does the family discover about him? Why does he behave differently as night falls? Why does he not move at all? Will Padma’s father now sell him off? Find out how the care of a loving Ladakhi girl and the resourcefulness of an ingenious Ladakhi boy help Bumboo deal with his unusual ailment in this story inspired by a true incident.
My Facebook Friends (Tulika Books)
Age: 8+
A young monk who likes playing football, a professor who has been studying earthworms for 40 years, a designer with a passion for tap dancing… My Facebook Friends, as the title suggests, is inspired by the virtual phenomenon of social networking. Kavita’s imaginative take on it combines her love for travel with an uplifting offbeat perspective, colourfully map diverse stories from all over the world – India, Nepal, Korea, Kenya, Spain and more…
My Two Great-Grandmothers (Pratham Books)
Age: 8+
This is a story about a little girl who learns about the two very different great-grandmothers and their two very different worlds. She has never seen the great-grandmother who lives in Gambia, but she sometimes visits her Norwegian great-grandmother. A warm tale rich with the sounds and scents of two countries, bound with the comforting bonds of love.
Tiger Boy (Duckbill Books)
Age: 10+
Neel’s parents want him to win a scholarship, and go to the big city to study. But Neel doesn’t want to leave his beloved Sundarbans, with its beautiful trees and its magnificent tigers. And then a tiger cub goes missing from the reserve! The evil Gupta wants to sell the cub and sets his people to search for it. Neel and his sister Rupa are determined to find the cub and take it to safety before Gupta and his goons find it. Racing against time, and braving the dangers of the dark, will Neel succeed in saving the little tiger cub?
Kahani Tree 