Nandini Nayar

Nandini Nayar is India’s most prolific children’s writer. In a career spanning less than 20 years she has published 53 books with well-known Indian publishers like Tulika, Karadi, Amar Chitra Katha, Scholastic, Puffin, HarperCollins, Juggernaut, Pratham, Eklavya, Talking Cub and Mango. Her international publishers include Oxford University Press, Pakistan, Frances Lincoln and Tricycle Press. In addition, Nandini has been a regular contributor to iconic children’s magazines like Tinkle, Hoot, Toot, Dimdima and The Children’s Magazine and newspapers like The Hindu and Sakal Times.


Generations of readers recognize her as the author of well-loved picture books like What Shall I Make? and Where is Amma? What Shall I Make? was named an outstanding book by the United States Board on Books for Young Readers. Pranav’s Picture, What Shall I Make?, Guddu’s Photo and The House of Fourteen Cats feature in the list of books recommended by the Central Board of Secondary Education (India). What Shall I Make? and What Did You See? feature in 101 Indian Children's Books We Love (Zubaan).
For older children Nandini has written novels, collections of short stories, creative biographies and retellings. Her four books in the series The Diary of an Indian Schoolgirl are immensely popular and both Apoorva’s Fat Diary and Camp Sweets won the BICW award in 2019. Mouse and Bear, The Perfect Chair and The House of Fourteen Cats won prizes in the competition organized by the Children’s Book Trust.
Her other books for older children include The Curious Case of the Sweet and Spicy Sweetshop, The Great River Magic and The Girl in the Mirror.