Dulari Devi didn’t know how to read the printed word, but she always had a rich visual lexicon built into her consciousness, a legacy that stemmed from being part of a rural community in Bihar that created stunning wall murals in the Mithila art style, also known as Madhubani painting. Her story is one of … Continue reading #WORLDKIDLITWEEKEND: Following My Paint Brush
Stunningly illustrated in Bhajju Shyam's trademark Gond Art style, this book narrates the story of Musa, a young tribal boy, who leaves home for the forest one morning, little knowing that this will be the day when he's pushed to face his fears. When his mother falls sick, Musa offers to collect the firewood for … Continue reading #WORLDKIDLITWEDNESDAY: Alone in the Forest
Described as a "poetic riddle" emphasizing the importance that language holds in our lives today, and the fragile position that it increasingly occupies, What Makes Us Human is a book filled with gentle surprises. Beginning with a time when the idea of a language was still new, to the breathtakingly beautiful spread that shows how … Continue reading #WORLDKIDLITWEDNESDAY: What Makes Us Human
This is a collection of poems rooted in a mindscape that mirrors children's thoughts as they mull over weighty questions such as, What If? and Whyever Not? Ranging from the silly and the absurd with poems such as Stubby Joe that bring us a tit-for-tat dialogue between Stinkus Finkus and his big toe, to thematically … Continue reading #WORLDKIDLITWEDNESDAY: Tickle Me, Don’t Tickle Me
Piecing together the story of the past, while being firmly rooted in the present, cognisant that this could change in the future as new discoveries dawn, lends The People of the Indus its dialogic charm. This graphic novel attempts to tell the story of the Indus Valley civilization based on archaeological evidence found so far, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The People of the Indus
Freedoms, both personal and collective, are explored in the endearingly crafted Nida Finds A Way, written by Samina Mishra and illustrated by Priya Kuriyan. Aimed at younger readers as a part of the hOle books series—Duckbill’s line of books with a hole cut into the top right corner to do with as you please—the story … Continue reading #WORLDKIDLITWEDNESDAY: NIDA FINDS A WAY
Spurred by his own experiences as a parent, the 2022 Booker Prize-winning author Shehan Karunatilaka, ventured into making books for young readers, with the Baby Baba series of books, in 2019. Written in rhyme and quirkily illustrated by his brother Lalith Karunatilaka, the book begins with describing Baby Baba—a bemused but fearless toddler in a … Continue reading #WorldKidLitWednesday: Please Don’t Put That In Your Mouth
In an age when it feels like surprises and amazement are hard to come by, here’s a book about presence, our senses, and seeing the natural world in a new light. What the Dark Sounds Like, sensitively written by Aparna Kapur and whimsically illustrated by Krishna Bala Shenoi, follows a child’s trail of thought, and … Continue reading #WorldKidLitWednesday: What the Dark Sounds Like
With its pages encased in generous swirls of gentle blue and pink, this is a book that tells Shreya—a second-generation migrant's story. At home, she delights in her mother's touch, and sees her sari fan out like a "magic carpet" around her mother. Shreya comes across as confident, safe, and snug in contentment, within the … Continue reading #WorldKidLitWednesday: Amma’s Sari
Set against the backdrop of the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, this young adult graphic novel captures the aspirations of sportspersons from the region and what it costs to pursue their dreams. Dominantly rendered in hues of pastel reds and greens, Terminal 3 tells the story of 17-year-old Khwab Nazir, a young jiu-jitsu player. The book opens … Continue reading #WorldKidLitWednesday: Terminal 3
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 