What's My Mother Tongue?
“Looks like you’re from North India. So Hindi must be your mother tongue?” It’s a question I’ve heard countless times - lightly spoken, yet heavy with assumption. We love neat labels: North Indian, South Indian, as though a country as diverse as India could be folded into tidy halves. But India stretches far beyond those borders - westward and eastward, into the southwest, the northeast, and all the spaces beyond and in between. Each region hums with its own languages, storie
Mitra
Jan 8
Others
In a world increasingly framed by “us” and “them”, have you ever paused to wonder what “they” really are like – those who are not from here? When society draws rigid lines between “us” and “immigrants”, Kobi Yamada’s forthcoming book “Others” offers a timely and necessary meditation on what if anything, truly separates one from the other. In his signature contemplative style, Kobi Yamada introduces protagonists who speculate about people on the other side of the wall, people
Mitra
Jan 7
Lila's Loose Tooth
If you are in charge of little humans who are losing their little teeth and are anticipating a visit from the tooth fairy, here’s a book by Mamta Nainy that you should not miss. As the title suggests, the story is about Lila and her loose tooth. What is special, however, is that the story sheds light on alternative beliefs associated with losing a tooth. The “tooth fairy” is a recent phenomenon in India, brought about by globalization. Indigenous wisdom dictated burying the l
Mitra
Jan 6
Will Goondi Come Home?
Muthu’s has a pet and it isn’t a dog or a cat or a hamster. It is Goondi, a rooster. But the rooster does not belong to Muthu. Goondi belongs to the Selvi Paati. One day, grandpa tells Muthu that the village head has decided to buy Goondi from Selvi Paati for his son’s wedding feast. Imagine Muthu’s horror thinking of Goondi ending up on someone’s plate! What would Muthu do next? Would Goondi be saved? Read and find out! The story is set in Kulathumedu, a small fishing villag
Mitra
Jan 3
The Cartoonists Club
This is not your typical graphic novel – it is a narrative non-fiction how-to book in the format of a graphic novel. This book moves on two engaging tracks at once: it follows a group of middle schoolers as they come together to form a cartoonists’ club, while also serving as a hands-on guide for young readers interested in making zines, graphic novels, and visual stories of their own. Makayla and Howard begin as friends who swap sketches and story ideas, often at the expense
Mitra
Dec 14, 2025
Shipwreck
Young students are often captivated by shipwrecks, hidden treasures, and daring journeys into the unknown. When you pair that curiosity with lyrical lines and detailed, well-researched illustrations, you get a book that’s sure to draw a crowd. “Shipwreck” will appeal to children from grade 1 - who will be intrigued by the mystery of each wreck - all the way to grade 5, who can also appreciate the brief, informative notes that accompany every poem. Highly recommend this book!
Mitra
Dec 11, 2025
Awesome Earth
A beautiful blend of verse and earth science, this book pairs poetic form with striking illustrations to introduce young readers to 19 landforms and the layers of our planet. Its mix of concrete poetry and geology makes it accessible across grades 1 to 5, offering teachers and students a flexible, engaging resource that works on many levels. A great book to add to your collection!
Mitra
Dec 10, 2025
