18 new children’s books to keep kids of all ages engrossed this summer

By Neha Kirpal

As the summer holidays have begun, we compiled a list of some recent children’s books to keep your little ones busy and entertained!

With diverse themes ranging from climate change to mythology, dance, horror, courage, spirituality, mental health and women power – we’ve got you covered with a mix of books that cater to young readers as well as young adults.

When Fairyland Lost its Magic (10+ years)
By Bijal Vachharajani and Rajiv Eipe (HarperCollins)

Fairyland is in the midst of a climate crisis, and its citizens must find a way out for a “happily ever after” ending. With stunning black-and-white illustrations by Eipe, the stories cleverly bring together characters from well-known fairy tales, such as Rapunzel, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks, the Snow Queen, Hansel & Gretel, and The Little Mermaid, in a modern retelling, set against the backdrop of new-world problems like climate change and global warming.

You’ve Got This, Arjuna! (5+ years)
By Lissa Coffey and Rajesh Nagulakonda (Adidev Press)

The game is about to begin. But one player, Arjuna, feels sad and confused. He questions his role and asks his friend, Krishna, for advice. Krishna tells him about a bright, inner spark of light that is ablaze in all of us.

Reminding him that no one is perfect, he tells Arjuna not to play for awards, rather for the joy of it. “Winning or losing is not for you to say,” he says.

A modern retelling of the Bhagavad Gita for kids, this fun tale, told through a simple, rhyming story, is based on a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna.

Mini’s Friend (8+ years)
By Nandini Nayar and Isha Nagar (HarperCollins)

Anika is a new girl in Mini’s class. She soon becomes her friend, and Mini begins to do whatever Anika does. To everyone’s relief, Anika is a good influence on Mini, who learns many good habits from her.

Among other messages, the book puts the spotlight on the festival of Diwali, for which Mini makes some sparkler diyas and sweets shaped like crackers. Kids can also colour the black-and-white pictures in the book while reading it.

The Chhau Champ (7+ years)
By Vibha Batra and Priya Kuriyan (Duckbill)

Shubha’s father is teaching Chhau to her brother Shayon. Ironically, what Shayon really wants to do is play football, and is failing miserably at learning the dance. On the other hand, Shubha feels she could easily learn Chhau in her sleep, even though it’s traditionally a male art form of martial arts and acrobatics requiring much strength, stamina and power.

Accompanied by delightful illustrations, this book about changing times truly brings out the magic of Chhau – complete with the taal, drum, dhamsa, shehnai, costumes, weapons and brightly painted masks made of paper, pulp and clay.

A Star Named Bibha and Other Stories (8+ years)
By Anwesha Sengupta, Supurna Banerjee and Simantini Mukhopadhyay (HarperCollins)

This book chronicles the life stories of 30 extraordinary women who, through their life and work, have challenged what women could and could not do, given the times that they lived in.

From Sudesha Devi and Vidya Munshi to Bhikaji Kama and Fatima Sheikh, each story celebrates the diversity of these women’s experiences, and is accompanied by an attractive portrait.

“We hope the lives of these women will inspire and empower young readers to understand the past and the contemporary with empathy,” write the authors.

Painted Walls of Malainagar (5+ years)
By Shyamala Shanmugasundaram and Anthoni Guruz (Tulika Books)

Soori lives in the centre of a bustling market with his family. But when the government starts clearing slums, its residents are moved to small flats on the outskirts of the city – in Malainagar.

Soori dislikes his new shabby neighbourhood. He wishes that colourful clouds burst open and brighten its dull buildings. Some days later, he is surprised to see artists with paints and brushes painting murals on all the walls. Soon, Soori and his friends join them, making this a colourful and cheerful book indeed.

Mahi: The Elephant Who Flew Over the Blue Mountains (8+ years)
By Anand Neelakantan (HarperCollins)

The first of a series for children, this charming book about a young elephant – who embarks on a journey to fulfil his dream of flying over the blue mountains – can be read and enjoyed equally by adults.

Written by the author of the widely acclaimed Bahubali trilogy, this is the 14th book and third children’s book by Neelakantan, whose main source of inspiration are his own children.

“You can’t fool children with overflowing language, obscure philosophy or ideology in your story. You need to tell a good story well or children will show you the mirror,” he writes in the book’s acknowledgements.

My First Prayer to Lord Ram (5+ years)
By Chitwan Mittal, Sarita Saraf and Aparajitha Vaasudev (Adidev Press)

Tulsidas’ prayer to Lord Ram was written in Awadhi more than four hundred years ago. Born in the Raghu Dynasty to King Dashrath and Queen Kaushalya, Ram was equally well-versed in warfare and spiritual texts.

A simple translation of Tulsidas’ prayer crafted especially for kids, this lovely book is accompanied by beautiful illustrations. Among other things, the prayer describes Ram’s physical attributes, powers and beauty.

The Jewel of Nisawa (13+ years)
By Jugal Hansraj and Ruchi Shah (HarperCollins)

Actor, writer and award-winning director Jugal Hansraj returns with a brilliant sequel to his acclaimed novel The Coward and the Sword. The book follows the young and brave prince of Kofu, Kadis, in his journey of discovery into a forgotten kingdom where many difficulties face him until he finds the precious jewel.

This is Hansraj’s third novel and his son, Sidak, is his main inspiration to write. It is accompanied by some striking illustrations by book illustrator and wall artist Ruchi Shah.

Priya the Jungle Dancer (5+ years)
By Sathya Achia and Janan Abir (Adidev Press)

Priya’s grandparents are getting her ready for her dance recital by teaching her the moves over a video call. They remind her that she is a jungle dancer who dances to thank the river goddess and to call for rains.

“Be the jungle dancer… fierce like the monsoon rains, grounded like the palm tree in a storm, and determined like the lotus,” they tell her.

The author Sathya Achia was inspired by her relationship with her own grandparents in writing the story, which is also influenced by a combination of the many Kodava folk dances, music and beliefs.

The Rain Harvesters (8+ years)
By Sylvia Sikundar and Stephen Aitken (HarperCollins)

This is the first in a new environmental fiction series that introduces young readers to important issues related to climate change. The Chelo children find ways to harvest rainwater when the wells in their village dry up and crops start failing.

Stephen Aitken has written about the climate crisis in more than 10 books for readers around the world from ages eight to 80. The book is also a tribute to Sylvia Sikundar’s late husband who was of Indian ancestry. She believes that children are our future leaders and environmental stewards. “Age is no barrier to leadership,” she writes in the author’s note in the book, which also has fun activity sheets at the end.

13 Times: Strange Stories to Chill and Thrill (8+ years)
By Cheryl Rao (HarperCollins)

This book comprises 13 eerie stories about imaginary friends, a dragon pendant, a cursed road, a unique collection of snow globes, a strange town where time stands still, a mysterious peepal tree in a courtyard, and a Halloween party in an abandoned decrepit house, among other spooky things. Short and written in a simple, straightforward language, this book is a quick and easy read for youngsters.

Sad Glad (5+ years)
By Sidhartha Mallya and Vibha Surya (Penguin)

One morning, Sid wakes up feeling different. The sky looks dark and gloomy. Duke, his pup and best friend, instantly senses that something is wrong. He helps Sid cope with and embrace all his different emotions, such as cheerfulness, sadness, worry, fear, anger, joy, confusion, excitement and anxiety.

“Without the rain, you can’t have flowers; to see a rainbow, we need the showers. Without the day, we won’t have night; if there is no darkness, then there cannot be light,” he explains. Mallya dedicates the book to the child that forever lives within us all.

The Golden Tiger Mountain (8+ years)
By Nicholas Hoffland, Ravi Kapoor and Tanaya Vyas (HarperCollins)

Pala Dawa and his eight-year-old granddaughter, Rinzing, go on an adventure to climb the insurmountable Golden Tiger Mountain – something that no man has ever done.

“I’m not a man, I’M A GIRL, SO I CAN. I’m not a man, I’M A GIRL, SO I CAN!” believes Rinzing, and rightly so. What they finally discover is that the fruit of one’s labour is sweet indeed. With picturesque illustrations by designer, illustrator, researcher and educator Tanaya Vyas, the book also includes an exclusive playlist of songs and piano notes.

The Boy Who Built a Secret Garden (7+ years)
By Lavanya Karthik (Duckbill)

Part of the Dreamers series of 10 delightfully illustrated short biographies to inspire young readers, this is the story of Nek Chand Saini who built the famous Rock Garden in Chandigarh.

When the great new city of Chandigarh was created in new India, Nek came here as a road inspector. Every day for several years, he collected the city’s unwanted waste, rocks, pebbles, sticks, stones, clay, tiles, bits of shattered pots and cups and slivers of bangles. He built a hut to store his treasures in a patch of forest land by the Sukhna Lake.

His secret garden, Sukhrani, soon became a garden of gods, goddesses, kings, queens, birds and animals. At 40 acres, the garden is the city’s pride today.

The Boy with a Hundred Questions (8+ years)
By Nalini Ramachandran and Shruti Hemani (HarperCollins)

This is the story of a young child who has many questions about the complex subjects of faith and belief. His quest takes him on a journey through the big ideas that make up faith, the teachings of various belief systems, the connections between faith and science and how all of these together make us humans who we are.

The book, which uses the ancient method of storytelling to help children discover the tenets, teachings and tales of 11 major faiths from around the world, aims to open up conversations on various aspects of faith.

Zeba: An Accidental Superhero (12+ years)
By Huma S Qureshi (HarperCollins)

Going by the theme of “the future is female”, Bollywood actor Huma S Qureshi’s debut fantasy novel explores the transformation of a wilful, rebellious girl into a sassy, tough and fiesty, one-of-a-kind superhero. She dedicates her superhero saga to all the little girls who dream of flying and misfits who refuse to grow up. “Keep asking those damn questions!” is her advice to them.

ASAP (13+ years)
By Axie Oh (HarperCollins)

Nominated for the Yalsa Best Fiction for Young Adults, this dreamy book is about K-pop idols and secret romances by New York Times bestselling author Axie Oh.

Sori is on her way to becoming a pop-star, when she finds herself thinking about her ex-boyfriend, Nathaniel, a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands. Ultimately, Sori must choose between her future and a second chance at love. Needless to say, the book is a must-read for all young K-pop fans.