Sandhya Rao is one of the finest writers for children in India. Her books have won awards and accolades: My Friend the Sea won the Ambitious Children’s Book Project award at the Berlin Children and Youth Literature Festival, 2005. My Mother’s Sari was chosen as an Outstanding International Book, 2007, by the United States Board for Books for Young People (USBBY) and the Children’s Book Council. Rights to the book have been sold for USA, Canada, Australia and the U.K. In 1996, she joined Radhika Menon to create multilingual books for children at a time when independent children’s publishing in India was nascent. She has written over 20 books. Chennai-based Sandhya has an eclectic taste in books, music and films and loves listening to stories, especially real stories. She works at The Hindu
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.
A joyful tribute to multilingualism that says Mother and Father in 18 different languages — from Japanese to Kikuyu, Spanish to Finnish, Tulu to Tagalog... Illustrations capture the multi-ethnic, multicultural spirit with sensitivity and skill.
Irfan writes a story on the sand. So do Shaan, Thanh, Wang and many other children. These are washed away by waves, churned in the oceans and left on other sands, where other children listen to them…
A child's imagination transforms a sari into a train, a river, a swing... and many things magical. The unconventional pictures combine photographs and acrylics in dramatic, original ways. 2007: Outstanding International Book, United States Board for Books for Young people, USA
Simple text, sound words and affectionately drawn pictures capture the mood of a sudden storm in a snail's world.
When will it rain, Little Frog asks his mother. When black clouds appear in the sky, she replies. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday... every day Little Frog looks out for clouds. Bold strokes and bright colours highlight the drama of the sky.
A black cat with bright green eyes becomes a white cat with bright green eyes. Illustrated with bright colours that contrast dramatically with the black and white.
Beboo, a baby sloth bear, lives in the jungle. But many other bears like him are caught by humans and made to dance on the streets for entertainment. Simple text, photographs and cartoons tell an important story.
Amma makes dosas but they keep disappearing. Children have the last laugh as they watch the pictures ‘move'.
Arresting black and white illustrations convey the author's own sense of wonder in this nearly wordless picture drama of two children who find themselves in a forest at night.
Based on a real friendship between a child and a tree, this gentle story is warmed by dramatic pictures in rich colours.
Rani looks on the beach for a gift for her grandmother. Large photographs that look at little things and small illustrations that provide the bigger picture come together in this story.
Gagan and Chikki knock talkative Avneet aunty's mobile phone out of her hand. Ooops! A modern story with elementary text, interesting sounds and whacky pictures.
This little book of photographs, with just a line of text on each page, is a tribute to the universal and unifying spirit of cricket.
Help! cries the ant when its little one falls into the water. Crokk! Isspiss! Aaaanh! Cheek! Miyawwwwn! Woaw! come the responses in this folktale that plays with sound.
Little Lai-Lai is curious but stays close to his mother. The world of wild elephants is explored through stunning photographs and informative text, with lovable elephant cartoons.
Meet animals that live in the city in this easy-to-read book illustrated with photographs and caricatures. Children get a fresh perspective on familiar birds and animals.
The sun is hurt when the farmer shouts at it, and goes away. Only a rooster's trick will bring it back. Luminous illustrations bring alive this folktale of the Ao people of Nagaland.
Why is Grandma so special? Just a dozen lines of simple text capture all her warmth. This unique book also has pictures that ‘move' animation style.
Norbu's father buys him a pair of yellow shoes that a monkey mistakes for bananas! A story set in Sikkim with refreshingly different pictures.
When his mother is away and his sisters are asleep, Takdir the tiger cub decides to go off on his own. His story is told through endearing photographs and simple text.
When the people beg a lazy god to find land, he goes to the astrologer for help. A zany story from the Bhilalas of central India, with pictures based on original mud-wall paintings. 2000: Excellence in Publishing, Federation of Indian Publishers
Sonabai lives by making and selling sweets with berries from her tree. All is well until Kolaba the fox enters the scene. A Marathi folktale with stylised paper-cut illustrations.
A timeless Marathi folktale about one-haired Ekki and two-haired Dokki, illustrated with happy triangles.
