“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

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

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

Bursting with bright, playful artwork, this story follows Lena the chicken, who is absolutely convinced she’s a dinosaur. She’s bold, noisy, and determined to show the rest of the flock how to be brave and confident - but no one gets it. Though discouraged, Lena refuses to give up. One night, when trouble suddenly arrives, the other chickens panic… but Lena? Read and find out! It’s an adorable tale with a powerful reminder to stay true to who you are, even when others don’t q

If you are teaching body systems or if you just need a laugh-out-loud book packed with facts, “I’m Trying to Love Farts” is a winner. Thoroughly entertaining yet full of information including what causes flatulence, why is it smelly, and animals who do/don’t fart – this book will be your class favourite in no time!

This book is fun, and has a lovely message for the holiday season. Jake writes a letter to Santa asking for lots of gifts. When Santa doesn’t answer, Jake sends even more letters, asking for even more things. Santa gets tired of Jake being so greedy. He finally writes back and reminds Jake that it is better to give than to receive - but that’s not the end. After a few more letters, Santa decides to take a break! He goes on holiday and leaves Jake to do his job of delivering g

“Once, A Bird” is a wordless picture book that reveals its narrative in quiet, meaningful snapshots. A lone bird searches for the perfect spot to build a home and settles in a tree beside an apartment block. At first, the people inside remain hidden behind their windows - busy, withdrawn, or simply disconnected. But when they begin to hear the bird’s gentle melodies, something shifts. One by one, they pause, listen, and feel a spark of joy returning. To me, this book celebrat

“Balloon” is an almost-wordless picture book about a little boy who loses his orange balloon. And when little humans lose something that they cherish, they have the illusion of seeing that very same thing everywhere! Our little friend keeps seeing round orange things all over the city that reminds him of the lost balloon. But wait till the end – he does end up with something that actually makes him forget what he lost!

What would happen if you make a call on a banana phone? Who will pick up – and what will you talk about? This is a whimsical picture book that invites the little ones under your care to roll out their canvas of imagination, while adults will get thinking about overcoming the hesitation of picking up the phone and calling a friend they haven’t spoken to in a while. A joyful giggle-filled read-aloud that’s perfect for preschoolers!

This heartfelt picture book follows Mazie, a brave young cancer survivor beginning school with a bald head and only one eye. When she walks into the classroom, curious classmates whisper and imagine wild explanations for her appearance. Their silent stares weigh on Mazie, leaving her feeling alone - until she finds the courage to speak up and invite them to simply ask her about her story. Inspired by the author’s own childhood experience, this book gently guides children to a

A little girl finds a balloon and she’s sure her day just got lucky! But everyone else around her assumes that it must be her birthday. Well, she didn’t lie, but she didn’t correct them either and the simple misunderstanding spirals out of control. The entire group now expects a party with multi-layered cake and frosting and sprinkles. What a humorous book that shows how a harmless fib can blow out of proportion! Highly recommended for K-2!

Frank Murphy and Kayla Harren’s “…Like You/Ours” series has always held a special place in my heart. Just when I wondered what more could they possibly add to this beautiful collection, Frank, Carla and Kayla gift us with a new book that will bring every dog lover together in an instant! Anyone who’s ever shared their life with a dog knows they are the most loyal, loving companions - reminding us to stay curious, find joy in life’s simple moments, and care deeply for those we

“Off the Wall” is a lively tribute to the joy of creativity in motion. It all starts with one young girl, a blank wall, and a bucket of chalk. Soon more friends join them for a game of tic-tac-toe, and before long, chalk dust fills the air, hands get smeared with color, and the wall blossoms into something bigger and more beautiful than anyone imagined. In this playful story, Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal come together one more time to celebrate the messy, marvelous ener

A charming and straightforward cat-and-mouse chase unfolds through the galleries of the Met, with each page transforming a work of art into part of the pursuit. Every piece is faithfully reimagined using its original materials and style - from ink paintings and medieval portraits to illuminated manuscripts, Egyptian tablets, and ancient pottery. This is a jaw-droppingly gorgeous book made even more special because of the back matter where Brian Lies takes us through the creat

I’m elated to receive the DRC of my mentor and friend Shameer Bismilla’s new book “Zakee and the Quiet Magic of Being You” which hits the shelves on 4 November. A tender story about a quiet child, brought to life by Seyma Arslan’s illustrations, this book is a timely reminder for educators to strike a balance not only in the type of group work assigned in class but also between group work and individual tasks. Beyond the literary and social-emotional merits of the book, this

Picture books about the trials and tribulations of learning a new language are often heavy and emotional reads. If you are looking for a...

Have you checked out the latest book on Diwali by Namita Moolani Mehra? It is a delight to hold the book, turn the pages and the numerous...

Here is yet another lovely picture book for the littlest ones! It is a book about noticing the interesting things around us. The...

At first, the story seems simple enough - a boy spends a regular school day, meets his mother afterward, and together they share lunch...

I love it when authors step outside their usual style to try something completely different. Matthew Forsythe - of 𝘗𝘰𝘬𝘬𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥...