Are you in search of books that feel like a soft spring breeze for your penguinsters? We’ve got you covered! Here are our top picks for March.
The Complete Vikram-Aditya Stories by Deepak Dalal
The Complete Vikram-Aditya Stories || Deepak Dalal
India’s response to the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Famous Five mystery books is the Complete Vikram-Aditya Stories boxset. This collector’s edition boxset includes all eight novels. The dynamic pair of Vikram and Aditya, along with their ragtag crew of friends, set out on exciting adventures where they come face to face with frightened wild animals, isolated indigenous tribes, and a number of other dangerous situations.
Terminal 3 by Debasmita Dasgupta
Terminal 3 || Debasmita Dasgupta
Khwab Nazir is ready to board the plane at Terminal 3 of the New Delhi International Airport in August 2019. Khwab is anxiously anticipating her upcoming international jiu-jitsu competition as the representative of India. She also thinks back on her tumultuous past, growing up in Kashmir amid overwhelming challenges.
Hanuman: Read and Colour by Devdutt Patnaik
Hanuman: Read and Colour || Devdutt Patnaik
Hanuman’s tale, a beloved Hindu deity, is told to a new audience of readers by Devdutt Pattanaik. To introduce young readers to the virtues of bravery, selflessness, loyalty, and humility that Hanuman exemplified, Hanuman, Anjani’s Mighty Son is the ideal read-aloud. Young readers will particularly enjoy this unique, interactive format for bedtime reading.
Sleepytime Tales with Coco Comma by Sonia Mehta
Sleepytime Tales with Coco Comma || Sonia Mehta
Coco Comma is an English language ace. Everyone finds her interruptions and English corrections to be irksome. She frequently bumps into things, bumps into people, and walks into furniture while having her nose buried deep in a novel. Coco makes absurd rhymes, uses hilarious idioms, alliterates impossible sentences, and even comes across a magical alphabet tree with her best friend Sunny.
Cyrus the Whyrus by Lavanya Karthik
Cyrus the Whyrus || Lavanya Karthik
Cyrus has a lot of Whys! They graze like animals and buzz like bees. Everyone is going wild over them!
The whys need to end. Yet how?
Wet Paint by Asha Nehemiah
Wet Paint || Asha Nehemiah
When a disaster hits, Aman is supposed to paint a mural on the new hospital. Can he and the mason’s daughter Paru turn the tide? Will the community’s ideal mural be realized? It is a humorous tale that highlights the significance of diversity and inclusion in healthcare.
Tale of the Naughty Flying Mountain by Anand Neelakantan
Tale of the Naughty Flying Mountain || Anand Neelakantan
Although it may seem absurd, it is real! Under his imposing snowy cloak, Himavan, the ruler of the mountains, did indeed have magnificent wings. But because of Narada, the troublemaker, pandemonium broke out, and things only got worse from there!
With his humorous series, the best-selling author of mythology joins the field of children’s chapter books, and you’ll be laughing so hard you’ll fall down the hill.
The Library of hOles
The Library of hOles
Through the use of a Duckbill hOle book, thousands of Indian children have begun reading.
Get all 33 books in this special Library of hOles and instill a passion of reading in your children. These chapter books are for children who are beginning to read independently and are easily identified by the hOle at the top corner of each book. They are stuffed with amusing tales, lovely artwork, and hOles!
Cuddled up with your kid and looking for the perfect bedtime story? Penguin’s got you covered. Here are our February recommendations to make your kids warm up to reading.
My First Ruskin Bond Collection by Ruskin Bond
My First Ruskin Bond Collection || Ruskin Bond
A carefully picked collection of ten concise, endearingly illustrated stories from India’s favourite storyteller, each book provides a wonderful introduction to the world of Ruskin Bond through fascinating characters and stories that are delightfully crafted in his particular way. This boxset of heartwarming, humorous, and vibrant books makes the ideal present for independent and beginning readers.
10 Unforgettable Indians and their Remarkable Stories
10 Unforgettable Indians and their Remarkable Stories
These biographies, written by authors like Sreelata Menon, Subhadra Sen Gupta, Devika Rangachari, and others, reconstruct the lives and legacies of famous people. This compilation of fascinating stories about trailblazers like Mahatma Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, Guru Nanak, and Mother Teresa are laced with anecdotes, obscure facts, and trivia. Each book is an engrossing tale of icons whose lives continue to inspire every generation, making this a wonderful gift package for young readers.
My Little Book of Gods and Goddesses Boxset
My Little Book of Gods and Goddesses
This collection of six endearingly designed board books features stories about some of the most well-known and adored Hindu deities, including Krishna, Ganesha, Lakshmi, Hanuman, Shiva, and Durga. These books provide a special and pleasant introduction to classic myths for contemporary kids. They include fascinating facts about each god as well as a seek-and-find exercise.
Hanuman: Anjani’s Mighty Son (Read and Colour) by Devdutt Patnaik
Hanuman: Anjani’s Mighty Son || Devdutt Patnaik
A new generation of readers is introduced to the tale of Hanuman, a beloved Hindu god, by Devdutt Pattanaik. The read-aloud version of Hanuman, Anjani’s Mighty Son is ideal for introducing young readers to the courage, selflessness, loyalty, and humility that Hanuman possessed. Young readers will love this distinctive, interactive style, especially for nighttime reading.
Terminal 3 by Debasmita Dasgupta
Terminal 3 || Debasmita Dasgupta
Khwab has persevered through bliss and emptiness, desire and loss, penance and serenity. She has a dream about the day when life will be a paradise. The story of the common people in the Valley attempting to live their dreams is told in Terminal 3’s breathing against the setting of violence.
Taatung Tatung and Other Amazing Stories of India’s Diverse Languages by Vaishali Shroff
Taatung Tatung || Vaishali Shroff
Khwab has persevered through bliss and emptiness, desire and loss, penance and serenity. She has a dream about the day when life will be a paradise. The story of the common people in the Valley attempting to live their dreams is told in Terminal 3’s breathing against the setting of violence.
Dakshin by Nitin Kushalappa MP
Dakshin || Nitin Kushalappa MP
Explore this collection of fifteen colourful myths, fables, and folktales from vivacious southern India. Discover the alluring fairies, elves, gods, and goddesses along the route as you journey from the banks of the Kaveri to the coasts of the Indian Ocean, from the depths of enigmatic jungles to the towering Nilgiris, from the opulent palaces of kings to tranquil villages in Coorg. Chuckle at a miser’s humorous actions. Cry at the foolish misfortunes. Be in awe of the weak’s bravery in the face of the powerful. Come and enjoy these wonderful folktales!
Munni Monster by Madhurima Vidyarthi
Munni Monster || Madhurima Vidyarthi
When Munni, a relative of her grandmother’s who has cerebral palsy, moves in with them, Mishti’s life is drastically altered. Her only thought is to somehow get her to leave. But as time goes on, Munni develops oddly appealing tendencies, and when things reach a crisis point, Mishti isn’t so sure Munni is the monster she initially believed she was. A humorously moving tale about a young boy, 10, who must deal with unexpected and challenging changes, a disability, and, most importantly, love.
The Complete Vikram–Aditya Stories by Deepak Dalal
The Complete Vikram–Aditya Stories || Deepak Dalal
India’s response to the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Famous Five mystery novels is the Complete Vikram-Aditya Stories boxset. This collector’s edition boxset includes all eight volumes for the first time ever. The dynamic duo of Vikram and Aditya, together with their ragtag crew of companions, set off on exciting excursions where they come face to face with frightened wild creatures, secluded indigenous communities, and a number of other frightening situations.
Chitti’s Travelling BookBox by Kavitha Punniyamurthi
Chitti’s Travelling Book Box || Kavitha Punniyamurthi
Chitti enjoys reading. But her town doesn’t have enough books, and some of her friends believe they’re boring! Can Chitti convince them to reconsider?
To a child, the concept of time is very simple. It flows by extremely fast when you’re playing and extremely slow when you’re bored. But New Year is always a great time to celebrate, introspect and makes kids aware of times changing. And the best way to do this is bring them books! Books – the chronicles of time, the doors to imagination and the gifts that stand the test of time itself!
So, here they are, the very first new children’s books releasing in 2023:
Diversity || Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
Diversity
Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
While there are many things that make us the same, there are also many things that make us different. Where we live, what we eat, how we dress and even how we speak-these are just a few things that make us who we are.
Let’s explore all of the wonderful things that make us special in our own way!
Miracles for the Maharaja || Aditi Krishnakumar
Miracles for the Maharaja (Meandering Magicians Series Book III)
Aditi Krishnakumar
Something strange is afoot in the kingdom of Pür.
The most favoured suitor at Princess Vasundhara’s swayamvara has disappeared …
A reclusive sorceress has emerged from the Eastern Isles …
The Inter-Realm Ambassador is furious …
A long-lost stone with dark powers must be found …
The Sprites are preparing for rebellion …
When dignitaries from all the Mortal Realms-and a few from the Inter-Realm-gather in Rajgir for a stressful swayamvara, only mayhem can ensue! Can Meenakshi and Kalban uncover Tara the Starchaser’s dark legacy and prevent a war between the Realms?
Book III in the Meandering Magicians series
Maithili and the Minotaur-Forest of Forgotten Fears || C.G. Salamander, Rajiv Eipe
Maithili and the Minotaur-Forest of Forgotten Fears (Book 2 in an Outlandish Graphic Novel Series)
C.G. Salamander, Rajiv Eipe
What starts out as a field trip into the forest, soon turns into something nefarious for Maithili, Minotaur, and their friends. Overjoyed, underprepared and blissfully unaware, one wrong turn is about to send them spiraling into the depths of their worst fears.
Sink into the second installment of Maithili and the Minotaur, set in an outlandish world where nothing is as it seems.
Tails and Tales || Reeja Radhakrishnan
Tails and Tales
Reeja Radhakrishnan
Meet the troublesome mouse who carries the gigantic Ganesha; a humble fish who saves
the world from a devastating flood; the vulture-king Jatayu who dies while attempting to rescue Sita, and many more.
There are animals and birds who lead a quest, forge a friendship, avenge a wrong or save the world
like a superhero. Let’s delve into their adventurous world and celebrate their heroism and valour!
The stories in this sumptuously illustrated gift edition showcase the diversity and wealth of our rich folklore while sharing the timeless wisdom imbued in them.
Who’s Afraid of a Giant Wheel? || Zainab Sulaiman
Who’s Afraid of a Giant Wheel?
Zainab Sulaiman
At school, Noorie is sassy. She does not listen to her teachers and bosses over her schoolmates. At home, Noorie is a slave to her neighbour and friend, Tina. Whatever Tina wants, Noorie does.
Tina’s friendship helps Noorie ignore the fact that her marks are bad, her teachers don’t seem to like her and that her father and mother are not getting along any more. Yet when everything falls apart, and even Tina rejects her, who will Noorie turn to?
My First Ruskin Bond Collection: A Set of 10 Chapter Books || Ruskin Bond
My First Ruskin Bond Collection: A Set of 10 Chapter Books
Ruskin Bond
Puffin Chapter Books is a series of short, illustrated books for young readers.
From India’s favourite storyteller comes a curated collection of ten short, charmingly illustrated stories. Each book offers a splendid introduction to Ruskin Bond’s world through endearing characters and deliciously written tales in his unique style.
Heart-warming, funny and spirited, this boxset is a perfect gift for beginners and independent readers.
So, which of these are going to decorate your little one’s bookshelf next?
December is here and so is our new set of books to keep your little ones tucked in. We know that you would want to spend time with them at home reading stories that they’ll thoroughly enjoy. So, we have got just the perfect reads for this winter season that are sure to keep them cozy and comfy!
Scroll and check out these new December books!
Sleepytime Tales with Curious Curie
Sleepytime Tales with Curious Curie || Sonia Mehta
It’s bedtime! Time to settle down, get cosy and read stories-with a touch of knowledge and oodles of fun. Meet some quirky characters who love to know about . . . well everything! Join them as they explore the world, and discover fun things along the way, as you drift off into the Sleepytime world.
Curious Curie is very curious with a scientific bent of mind. She loves to know how things work. Along with her dog Hubble, she has some fantastic adventures. Curie is special because she can talk to plants and animals too. Come along on exciting adventures with the funny duo and discover something fascinating and new about the world around you.
Puffin Classics: Taniya
Taniya || Arupa Patangia Kalita, Meenaxi Barkotoki
. . . it would be hard to find another that could match Taniya.
Did you know that although Taniya was a very good dog, she was also quite cowardly? It was her antics and adorable nature that made everyone around her love her so much. Why! She was even fed hilsa fish with rice almost every day. Did you also know that she would also sing while Arunabh would play the harmonica or that she could detect an original Marie biscuit from the fake? She was quite the bundle of talent, the little Taniya.
Kalita’s only children’s novel to date, Taniya is a timeless classic in Assam. Masterfully translated in English by veteran Assamese translator Meenaxi Borkotoki, the book also celebrates the verdant landscape and the social and cultural milieu of the beautiful region.
Nisha Small: The Knot of Gold
Nisha Small: The Knot of Gold || C.G. Salamander
Nisha Small is the youngest detective in all of Madurai.
So when her friend’s sister’s thaali gets stolen shortly before the wedding, Small is called in to solve the mystery. Can she beat the older moustached detectives to catch the thief?
Winter is coming. It’s almost here. There’s a nip in the air and we know you might be fleshing out hoodies and sweaters for your younger ones. To keep them warmer, we present to you their new cuddle buddies, our November releases! Our November releases are some of our greatest because we’ve saved some of the best for some of the last ones of the year. So, here are our November releases for children’s literature, enjoyed best with hot chocolate!
Passepartout, Is that You? || Menaka Raman
Passepartout, Is that You? (Hook Book)
Menaka Raman
Illustrated by Jenna Jose
Thatha has asked Shyam to keep an eye on Passepartout, a rescued tortoise. But now Passepartout has disappeared. Where can Shyam and Kannamma find him?
The Girl Who Loved Words: Mahashweta Devi || Lavanya Karthik
The Girl Who Loved Words: Mahashweta Devi (Dreamers Series)
Lavanya Karthik
Before Mahasweta Devi became a writer and human rights activist, she was a girl with a love for words.
*
The Boy Who Made Magic: P C Sorcar || Lavanya Karthik
The Boy Who Made Magic: P C Sorcar (Dreamers Series)
Lavanya Karthik
Before the world knew of PC Sorcar as Jadusamrat-Emperor of Magic, he was a boy enchanted by a dream.
*
The District Cup || Mallika Ravikumar
The District Cup
Mallika Ravikumar
Though talented, technically-sound and quick on their feet, the Mulsari Eagles is a football team that is bogged down by tremendous challenges. There’s the mid-fielder Prithvi who wants to play professional football against his middle-class father’s aspirations; the winger Kadambini who is fighting negative attitudes and stereotypes to find respect on the field; the centre-back Mangya who performs on the streets for a living… The struggles are endless.
Their coach Siraj wants the kids to have a fighting chance. But can he clash against the unbridled wave of corruption in Indian football, especially age fraud, for them to lift the District Cup? Can the Mulsari Eagles herald a new era in the once-glorious sport? Can they strike their way through to their goal?
In time for FIFA 2022, The District Cup is the perfect novel for all budding and veteran sportspeople!
*
That Big-Voiced Girl || Mamta Nainy
That Big-Voiced Girl
Mamta Nainy
A unique biography that explores and celebrates the life of a popstar as a feisty little girl
Right from her childhood, Usha Uthup knew that music was her true calling.
She picked up songs from the radio and sang with her big, booming voice.
But when rejected during the audition for her school choir, Usha wondered if her big voice was any good. All she wanted was to sing. Does she find a way?
*
Looking for Inspiration || Mamta Nainy
Looking for Inspiration
Mamta Nainy
A unique biography that explores and celebrates the life of a poet as a curious boy.
Right from his childhood, Rabindranath Tagore, also known as Robi, was attracted to nature. He found his poetic inspiration amidst the glassy waters of the pond, the leafy trees in his garden and the endless blue sky. But when Inspiration went missing one fine morning, Robi searched and searched all around the house. How would he write his poems again?
*
Sleepytime Tales with Nico Numero || Sonia Mehta
Sleepytime Tales with Nico Numero
Sonia Mehta
Bedtime stories with oodles of fun
So, head to your nearest bookstore or buy these wonderful books online and get those perfect winter companions for your little ones this November!
Will you gift the mundane box of soan papdi or dry fruits again this festive season? These sugar treats will expire in a few days or will probably be passed on to another relative or friend.
How about giving a gift that lasts for a lifetime? A gift that could light up your loved one’s world and will never leave them alone?
Yes, books! Books are the sweetest sugar alternatives and will stay with your friends and family…even after the last page. Hence, we have a book for all–be it the Gen Z cousin or the teen-patti-obsessed chachu, your fashionista neighbour or that sweet-tooth bua–there’s a book for everyone!
This festive season, #GiftForLife #GiftAPenguin!
The coolest gifts for every Gen Z in your life
Everything Is Out of Syllabus
Varun Duggirala
Everything Is Out of Syllabus || Varun Duggirala
Banaras Talkies
Satya Vyas
Banaras Talkies || Satya Vyas
Beauty Unbottled
Kavita Khosa
Beauty Unbottled || Kavita Khosa
Yuktahaar
Munmun Ganeriwal
Yuktahaar || Munmun Ganeriwal
The Art of Bitfulness
Nandan Nilekani & Tanuj Bhojwani
The Art of Bitfulness || Nandan Nilekani Tanuj Bhojwani
Do you have a cousin for whom fantasy >>>> reality?
Samsara
Saksham Garg
Samsara || Saksham Garg
Where The Cobbled Paths Lead
Avinuo Kire
Where the Cobbled Path Leads || Avinuo Kire
Sinbad and the Trumpet of Israfil
Kevin Missal
Sinbad and the Trumpet of Israfil || Kevin Missal
Sinbad and the Tomb of Alexander
Kevin Missal
Sinbad and the Tomb of Alexander || Kevin Missal
Rising Like a Storm
Tanaz Bhathena
Rising Like A Storm || Tanaz Bhathena
For the health-conscious buddy
On The Pickle Trail
Monish Gujral
On The Pickle Trail || Monish Gujral
Degh To Dastarkhwan
Tarana Husain Khan
Degh To Dastarkhwan || Tarana Husain Khan
Whose Samosa Is It Anyway
Sonal Ved
Whose Samosa Is It Anyway || Sonal Ved
This Handmade Life
Nandita Iyer
This Handmade Life || Nandita Iyer
For the matchmaker in your circle
Something I’m Waiting To Tell You
Shravya Bhinder
Something I’m Waiting To Tell You || Shravya Bhinder
The fall and the festive season are here…and so are our October releases! After all, what’s a better way to welcome this new month than by reading diverse stories to your little ones? So, spend time exploring the magic in the world, learning about gods and goddesses, and embarking on great adventures with our October releases!
Scroll through our recommendations and discover the best October releases for your kids!
*
The Magic of the Lost Story
The Magic of the Lost Story || Sudha Murty
After staying in the lockdown for over a year, Nooni is now visiting her Ajja-Ajji in Somanahalli. Memories of excavating the famous stepwell and experiencing village life for the first time in The Magic of the Lost Temple are still afresh in Nooni’s mind. Excited to finally step out of the confines of her home, little does Nooni know she will make yet another discovery, only this time it’s a missing puzzle in her family’s history.
Written in India’s favourite storyteller’s inimitable style, The Magic of the Lost Story captures the value of asking questions and keeping the answers alive. Packed with delightful artworks and wondrous terrains, this story takes you on an unforgettable journey as it follows the magnificent Tungabhadra River.
The People of the Indus
The People of the Indus || Nikhil Gulati, Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
Who were the people of the Indus?
Why didn’t they build pyramids like the Egyptians?
And ultimately what happened to them?
Supported by extensive research from a leading Indus archaeologist, this graphic novel seeks answers to precisely these questions. It is not history in the form of a dull record of dates and events but a beautifully illustrated glimpse into the lives of the people of the Indus civilization, dating all the way back to 3200 BCE. The People of the Indus is a rare account of how one of the most unique and enigmatic civilizations of the ancient world changed the course of human history. It is sure to enthrall young adults and older readers alike.
My Little Book of Durga
My Little Book of Durga
When Mahishasura makes the world weep and moan,
Who can stop him? Mighty Durga alone!
With charming illustrations and simple language, this short tale about the eternally powerful Goddess Durga will entertain and delight.
This series of charmingly illustrated board books introduces kids to some of the best-known and best-loved gods from popular Hindu mythology, including Krishna, Ganesha, Lakshmi, Hanuman, Shiva, and Durga.
Read aloud or read together with kids as they hear fascinating stories about the mighty Goddess Durga who is worshipped as Shakti or female power.
Dotted with interesting facts about each god as well as an interactive seek-and-find activity. Suitable for bedtime reading and parent-child association. Perfect way to familiarize children with India’s rich cultural fabric. These books offer a fun and enjoyable introduction to timeless myths and festivals for modern kids.
For ages: 3+ year
My Little Book of Hanuman
My Little Book of Hanuman
Hanuman wants to be big and strong.
But why does it have to take so long?
With charming illustrations and simple language, this short tale about Hanuman will entertain and delight.
Collect all six books in the series!
For ages: 3+ year
My Little Book of Shiva
My Little Book of Shiva
There are lots of stories about Shiva’s greatness and might.
Which one will Ganesha and Kartikeya hear tonight?
With charming illustrations and simple language, this short tale about Shiva will entertain and delight.
Collect all six books in the series!
This series of charmingly illustrated board books introduces kids to some of the best known and best loved gods from popular Hindu mythology, including Krishna, Ganesha, Lakshmi, Hanuman, Shiva and Durga.
For ages: 3+ year
Ramanujan
Ramanujan || Arundhati Venkatesh
Srinivasa Ramanujan wants to go to school in Kumbakonam only to do maths but his class has no maths teacher this year.
Instead, there is a series of substitutes making the boys do strange exercises–lifting iron ingots, measuring milk, jumping from one island to another and frying fish. Ramanujan wants no part in it, but he and his team, the Kumbakonam Krackerjacks are drawn into a challenge with the Triumphant Trio–and in any maths challenge, Ramanujan has to win!
Filled with rollicking humour, puns, puzzles, this meticulously researched novel describes the childhood of one of the world’s greatest mathematicians in a vividly imagined historical setting. Priya Kuriyan’s joyful illustrations capture his daily life in striking detail.
The Great Minds at Work series looks at the childhoods of people who made history against the backdrop of the times and places they grew up in.
Inni & Bobo: Go to the Park
Inni & Bobo: Go to the Park || Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kemmu
Little Inni adopts the scruffy-looking Indie puppy Bobo, and finally, he is home! But Bobo is still scared of everything-even the running water. Now it is all up to Inni, his new best friend, to help him learn and adapt to the ways of his new life. And what better way to do it than to head out to the park on Sunday the Funday! After all, it’s the best place to explore new things and even meet new people.
Endearing and narrated with a lot of heart, the Inni and Bobo Series, is not only about a little child finding friendship but also about the beauty of adopting dogs. It’s about learning empathy and imperative life lessons, and most importantly opening one’s heart and homes-which is what life is all about.
For ages: 4+ years
Andaman Adventure: The Jarawa
Andaman Adventure: The Jarawa || Deepak Dalal
This is the seventh book in the Vikram-Aditya series following from Koleshwar’s Secret and is the first of the two-part ‘Andaman Adventure’ books.
The Andaman coast, north and west of the capital city of Port Blair, is an unspoiled stretch of beauty. This untamed coast has only been partly explored. Large sea eagles prowl its blue skies, saltwater crocodiles patrol meandering creeks, and lush and dense forests unfold behind isolated beaches.
These magnificent forests are home to the proud and ancient people of this land known to outsiders as the Jarawa. Wielding arrows and spears, the Jarawa fiercely protect their wild abode, attacking those who dare enter into their sacred space.
Vikram and Aditya, accompanied by Chitra, a free-spirited girl much like the islands themselves, embark on an adventure of a lifetime along this very coast. On a moonlit night they venture up a forbidden creek where danger lurks in the shadows awaiting them. Find out what happens next in this thrilling adventure series set in India’s farthest-most region.
Andaman Adventure: Barren Island
Andaman Adventure: Barren Island || Deepak Dalal
This is the eighth and final book in the Vikram-Aditya series and the second of the two-part ‘Andaman Adventure’ books after The Jarawa.
When the book begins, Vikram, Aditya and Chitra are in Port Blair, the capital city of the Andamans. The trio are recuperating from their recent adventure in the remote Jarawa Jungles in the Andaman Islands. While exploring this colourful city, Vikram stumbles upon a series of intriguing clues. However, the investigations he conducts end up ruffling some feathers and manage to upset some powerful criminals. To escape their wrath, Vikram is forced to undertake a secret voyage destined for unknown shores, under cover of darkness.
In the remote corners of the Andaman Sea lies an island called Barren. Vikram arrives at this uninhabited and forgotten outpost of India, and soon discovers that it is not just a band of desperate men he must pit his wits against. Primal forces of nature, the very ones that shaped our planet, are at work on Barren Island, and Vikram and his companions have to face these challenges as well. Finally, this scintillating adventure series comes to a fiery and exhilarating climax on Barren Island’s isolated shores.
Run to the bookstore to get your copies of these October releases or order them online. Have a good time reading our curated October releases!
The JCB Prize for Literature has just unveiled its 2022 Longlist and we have three books in the run. Shortlist to be announced on 7th October 2022. Stay Tuned!
In northern India, an eighty-year-old woman slips into a deep depression after the death of her husband, and then resurfaces to gain a new lease on life. Her determination to fly in the face of convention – including striking up a friendship with a transgender person – confuses her bohemian daughter, who is used to thinking of herself as the more ‘modern’ of the two.
To her family’s consternation, Ma insists on travelling to Pakistan, simultaneously confronting the unresolved trauma of her teenage experiences of Partition, and re-evaluating what it means to be a mother, a daughter, a woman, a feminist.
Rather than respond to tragedy with seriousness, Geetanjali Shree’s playful tone and exuberant wordplay results in a book that is engaging, funny, and utterly original, at the same time as being an urgent and timely protest against the destructive impact of borders and boundaries, whether between religions, countries, or genders.
Can a life be like a jigsaw puzzle, pieces waiting to be conjoined? Like a game of hide-and-seek? Like playing statues? Can memories have colour? Can the sins of the father survive his descendants?
In a family – is it a family if they don’t know it? – that does not rely on the weakness of memory runs a strange register of names. The odd book of baby names has been custom-made on palace stationery for the patriarch, an eccentric king, one of the last kings of India, who dutifully records in it the name of his every offspring. As he bitterly draws his final breaths, eight of his one hundred rumoured children trace the savage lies of their father and reckon with the burdens of their lineage.
Layered with multiple perspectives and cadences, each tale recounted in sharp, tantalizing vignettes, this is a rich tapestry of narratives and a kaleidoscopic journey into the dysfunctional heart of the Indian family. Written with the lightness of comedy and the seriousness of tragedy, the playfulness of an inventive riddle and the intellectual heft of a philosophical undertaking, The Odd Book of Baby Names is Salim’s most ambitious novel yet.
Mumbai was almost submerged on the fatal noon of 26 July 2005, when the merciless downpour and cloudburst had spread utter darkness and horror in the heart of the city. River Mithi was inundated, and the sea was furious. At this hour of torturous gloom, Rohzin begins declaring in the first line that it was the last day in the life of two lovers, Asrar and Hina.
The arc of the novel studies various aspects of human emotions, especially love, longing and sexuality as sublime expressions. The emotions are examined, so is love as well as the absence of it, through a gamut of characters and their interrelated lives: Asrar’s relationship with his teacher, Ms Jamila, a prostitute named Shanti and, later, with Hina; Hina’s classmate Vidhi’s relations with her lover and others; Hina’s father Yusuf’s love for Aymal; Vanu’s indulgence in prostitutes.
Rohzin dwells on the plane of an imagination that takes readers on a unique journey across the city of Mumbai, a highly intriguing character in its own right.
September is here and the summer heat is slowly coming to a halt and the pleasant breeze is soon going to make your kids’ days even more cheerful! After the little ones have studied at school and played in the park, let them spend time reading amazing stories.
Check out our September releases and introduce your kids to diverse topics that they’d thoroughly enjoy reading.
Roshan’s Road to Music
Roshan’s Road to Music || Mamta Nainy
For ages: 5+ years
A unique biography that explores and celebrates the life of a musician as a passionate little girl. Right from her childhood, Annapurna Devi, also known as Roshan, had an ear for music. She found rhythm and melody in the most mundane sounds. She listened with wonder to the koel cooing and her grandmother snoring. But when her father gave sarod lessons to her brother, Roshan was moved to make music of her own. How did Roshan embark on her musical journey?
A Chera Adventure
A Chera Adventure || Preetha Leela Chockalingam
For ages: 9+ years
Curious and spirited, Sharadha loves living life in her ancestral tharavadu. The grand ol’ house, Vishwasam, is right in the heart of her beloved Marayur, in the Chera kingdom. The house is also the centre of activities as Devaki Amma, her grandmother, is a healer for the King no less! Life is good in the sleepy village!
But her inquisitiveness takes Sharadha on an unintended adventure. Trying to investigate a secret, she chances upon a mysterious trader and ends up in the bustling city of Mahodayapuram. And it’s not just any city but the busy multicultural melting pot of the Cheraman Perumal Empire!
As she traverses the metropolis, Sharadha gets pulled into the magical colours, languages, religions, and the vibrancy of the city. She now realizes how complex the Capital is from her small village life-full of intrigue and political scandals. But as a sudden war with the ambitious and powerful Chola Dynasty looms on the horizon, Sharadha pines to get back to her old quiet life in Marayur.
Peek into an account of what life was like during the final years of the Chera Dynasty of the eleventh century Kerala!
We have published amazing books in August for you and our young readers. So, spend the holidays and long weekends with your little ones reading them stories of courageous people and helping them understand India’s history.
The Train to Tanjore
The Train to Tanjore || Devika Rangachari
Tanjore, 1942
There are few excitements in Thambi’s quiet life. There is the new hotel, disapproved of by elders, which lures him with the aroma of sambar with onions. There are visits to the library to read the newspaper, and once in a while, a new movie at the Rajaram Electric Theatre. More disagreeably, there are fortnightly visits from his uncle to lay down the law.
When Gandhiji announces the Quit India movement, Tanjore is torn apart by protests. The train station-the lifeline of the town-is vandalized. Mysterious leaflets are circulated, containing news that newspapers do not publish. And inspired by the idea of a free India and his own dreams of being an engineer, Thambi must find the courage to do what he believes is right, even when it endangers all he holds dear.
The Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the struggle for independence.
A Conspiracy in Calcutta
A Conspiracy in Calcutta || Lesley D. Biswas
Calcutta, 1928
As the student protests gather momentum all across Calcutta, and police atrocities grow, ten-year-old Bithi wants to join in the struggle for freedom.
But living in a society where her best friend is to be married and just the fact that she is going to school is regarded with disapproval, how can Bithi play a substantial part? How can she fight those who are dearest to her? Discouraged but not daunted, Bithi schemes and plots and lies and is drawn into unexpected danger-all for the sake of fighting injustice in all its forms.
The Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the struggle for independence.
After Midnight
After Midnight || Meghaa Gupta
At the time of independence, few believed that a country made up of over 500 princely states and British provinces could survive as a nation, even for a few years. That a land stripped of its riches, wracked by disease and famine and divided along tense communal lines, could thrive in its ambition and aspirations. Yet, in 75 years since independence, India has grown beyond anyone’s expectation. Today it’s an Asian powerhouse, poised to become the third largest economy in the world. In many ways, this is one of the greatest underdog-beating-the-odds stories in world history.
How did India get this far? What were the sweeping social, cultural, scientific, political, military, environmental and economic developments it witnessed along the way? Interspersed with personal anecdotes, illustrations, infographics, informative timelines and pull quotes, After Midnight gives a powerful context to the present and revels in the diverse and remarkable ideas that have come to shape this great nation. It attempts to provide young readers with perspective, meaning, and food for thought as they try to comprehend the many facets of this fascinating country. This well-researched, accessible and definitive handbook tells the story of India like never before.
The Vanguards of Azad Hind
The Vanguards of Azad Hind || Gayathri Ponvannan
The year is 1943 in British India . . .
Kayal is a 16-year-old freedom fighter who takes part in marches, burns British goods and sabotages trains-all without the knowledge of her law-abiding family. So, it comes as quite a surprise when Kayal discovers that her aunt Uma is a soldier in the Azad Hind Fauj, the all-volunteer Indian National Army from Southeast Asia led by Subhash Chandra Bose, which aims to free India!
By what Kayal considers a huge stroke of luck, Uma agrees to take her along to a recruitment camp in Burma. Suddenly, the war, which had once seemed a distant thrill, now becomes a horrific reality.
Packed with adventures of teenagers as they join military boot camps, and set off on the most exciting journey of their lives, The Vanguards of Azad Hind is an ode to the Azad Hind Fauj and its women’s unit, the Rani of Jhansi regiment, whose soldiers proved to be trailblazers with their feisty passion to fight for India’s freedom.
Misfit Madhu
Misfit Madhu || Divya Anand
Madhu is a shy middle-grade developer who spends her holidays creating her dream app, ‘School Santhe’. Soon, the app goes viral…and so does she! And why not? After all, an app where everyone at school can trade stuff is the app they’ve all been waiting for! Madhu now sets her sights on winning the GoTek young developers contest.
But when School Santhe is used to selling leaked test papers, she’s faced with the hardest decision of her life:
a) Shut down the app that made her popular?
b) Or stay silent and become part of something…criminal?
As her dreams begin to crumble – with the entire school now blaming her for the mess her app has caused – Madhu realizes that sometimes, it’s far easier to debug an app than it is to debug your life!
Get your copies of these books from your nearest bookstore or via Amazon.
