Indrani Barua writes for children and translates books for them into Bengali. In her home in Shantiniketan, she has created a little library where she loves to do activities with children.
What happens when a grouchy giant decides to scoop all colour out of the world – from the trees and flowers, from the birds and animals, the fish and the waters? A quaint, fairytale-like story, set amidst magnificent mountains, leafy forests, swirling seas and skies.
Mati pesters her grandmother and father for her own plot of land in the big field. 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.
Lined up on a street are noisy motorbikes, honking cars, crowded buses, impatient autos... In their midst sits Maharani! At the heart of this funny little vignette is a cool-as-a-cucumber cow, an all too familiar character of an Indian streetscape.
When Sun was out people did things, but when Moon appeared all they did was sleep! Moon isn’t happy – she too wants to be noticed. So starting from where the three seas meet at the tip of India, she goes to the mountains at the very top, trying to ruffle up waters to announce her presence. But nothing works.
A boy who doesnt stop talking, furry cats and clacking needles... Shobha has a dream every night, but she always wakes up before they end. How do these dreams end? She really has to know.
Tiger cub Sultan and his Ammi have a special friend they call Junglee Bina because she loves the jungle. Bina wanders there for hours, unafraid, and taking photographs. It is these stunning photos that show Sultan's life in the Ranthambore forest, even as he tells the story of a warm relationship between a woman and the wild.
Little Malathi wants to run after hens and chicks, and catch ripe yellow mangoes as they fall — but how can she, on a wheelchair? Moments and experiences from the remarkable life of disabled athlete Malathi Holla, with energetic illustrations full of warmth and cheer.
Maoo the kitten looks up — and there… above Murali Mama’s jolly smile is something thunderous and black, thick and curly… his moustache! Terrified, Maoo runs away. It takes more encounters with all kinds of moustaches and a few whiskers for his hairy woes to end.
“This is a story of three things that happened in my school yesterday. I did not understand them. Maybe you will.” An everyday school story about friends and playing, bullying and sharing, takes a gentle turn. For it is told by Manna, and she has Down’s Syndrome.
Trisha is counting the number of beautiful peacocks on her mother’s saree when one curious peacock jumps off to explore the world. Trisha follows on his tail!