Aditi and the One-Eyed Monkey

"Kings, queens, dragons, animals that talk . . . the book has them all. Aditi and the One-Eyed Monkey, Suniti Namjoshi's first venture into the world of children's fiction, has all the ingredients that fascinate the young ... Written in a simple and entertaining style, the book nevertheless has several layers of meaning. Issues like racism and prejudice have been touched upon ...Vivid images and lively narrative make interesting reading."
– February 2000, The New Indian Express

" It's got all the things you'd expect in a fairytale: a King and Queen, a kidnapping dragon and a victim princess, Aditi. Adventures and magic formula. But soon you begin to see why the book is different ... The entire tradition of the fairytale is turned on its head ... The illustrations by Bindia Thapar spring out of the book. The lines are simple, round and sparse, but the faces look for all the world like real people and animals. Aditi, with her long plait and fresh face, is a masterpiece."
– February 2000, Deccan Herald

"... Aditi and the One-eyed Monkey has been brought out elegantly in a reprint by Tulika Publishers ...Do they manage to travel unscathed to the dragon's lair? How do they tackle him? The modern fairy tale has the answers. The writer puts across many messages without taking a moral tone ... The illustrations by Bindia Thapar are done with a complete understanding of the text. The dragon's expressions are a treat." 
– February 2000, The Hindu

Aditi and the Thames Dragon

"Those who met Aditi and the One-Eyed Monkey earlier and were waiting for the second instalment can now heave a sigh of relief ... Suniti Namjoshi blends fantasy and current events seamlessly. This is a good way to introduce children to problems like pollution. There are no immediate cures or magic solutions. It ends on a hopeful note ... A good read."
– November 2002, The Hindu

Aditi and the Marine Sage

"A delightful modern-day fairy tale for children."
– March 2005, The Week

"This is an adventure  that truly juxtaposes contemporary technological reality on to a world of make-believe...the protagonists have an adventure that laden with action, emotion and exploration. By placing her characters in situations that are innovative as well as flush with scientific possibilities, the author lends futuristic strokes to the traditional canvas of jungle life. "
– March 2005, The Tribune

A Face in the Water

"It is a delightful story about Pearl, a little girl from a western country, who has come to India with her parents and her brother Jasper and is visiting the Taj Mahal for the first time. The narrative shuttles smoothly between fantasy and reality blending the present with the past as the story of the Taj unfolds ... Uma Krishmaswamy's beautiful illustrations bring the story to life and deserve special mention. All in all, a satisfactory read."
– November 2000, The Book Review

"A Face in the Water is more than the story of the Taj. It combines the past so beautifully with the present that you don't realise you are moving back and forth in time and straddling centuries ... The wonderful thing about Libby's writing is that she doesn't talk down to her young readers, nor does she moralise. Refreshingly told, her tales are a treat.
     Children's writing, especially books here, usually suffer from poor illustrations. But Tulika has ensured that A Face in the Water comes alive with vibrant colours and simple but superb illustrations by Uma Krishnaswamy. Uma effortlessly merges Mughal miniature with contemporary folk designs. Goharara's swishing skirt is captured in all its glory as are Pearl's Papa's bermudas!"
– July 2000, Deccan Herald

That Summer at Kalagarh

"Why on earth is the book so short? After a long, long time we have a story for young readers that is not a Famous Five clone, nor is it a boarding school rehash of the Malory Towers variety. We've got a most endearing heroine, Gitanjali. Plump, prone to being teased about her size (that holiday, she's christened Hathni by her rude cousins!), yet refreshingly self-assured. Gitanjali definitely needed more space to romp around in than the eighty pages the short novel allowed her ... It's an unusual story with a delightful surprise in store for the reader, right at the end ...I urge you to buy the book."
– May 2001, Indian Review of Books

"This may be a nice way to wean budding couch potatoes from the addictive influence of the idiot box. Written by famous children's writer Ranjit Lal, this is a Famous Five-like story of Gitanjali and her cousins — Ajay, Ajit and Aveek — whose summer vacation begins on a nasty note (the cousins call her 'Hathni' or she-elephant). But the nasty introduction is soon salvaged and then unfurls an exciting and gripping tale of childhood intrigue, wonderment and drama ... Funny and told in photographic detail, this is something the kids will enjoy during their summer vacations."
– March 2001, Outlook

"One cousin who gets teased, two bullying cousins, one sweet cousin, an uncle and aunt who always remain unruffled, mystery in the jungle, excitement ... sounds familiar? But this book is not just a simple holiday adventure story. Ranjit Lal's simple yet honestly 'Indian' writing makes this book a pleasure to read. A smattering of Hindi and Urdu words in the book give it a very Indian flavour ... 
     Ranjit Lal has been writing articles and stories for children for several years, but this is his first book for children. But unlike many other books in this genre, this one is not a lesson in forest protection in the guise of a storybook. His stories are about forests and wildlife and because he specialises in natural history ... Like all books from Tulika, the tiny illustrations and the printing add to the charm of the book ... That Summer at Kalagarh captured in the 80 pages of this book, makes you feel pleasantly warm and happy that more and more Indian writers are making a mark on the literary scene."
– April 2001, Deccan Herald

"In his new offering, (Ranjit Lal) brings both his skills to bear: a sense of natural history and a gift for imagination. Kalagarh is free of the usual syrupy undertones or the taint of being a pale imitation of Enid Blyton or Richmal Crompton ... There are no poachers hidden away and no caves with secret treasures. The landscape is instead transformed into a place of miracle and wonder...
     There are two superb reasons for getting hold of this book. Not the least is the writer's deep familiarity with the plants and birds, the forest range and the host of local terms so vital to describe a forest scene ... Second, though this may be unintended, is the writer's ability to show how children in India can transcend social barriers in their search for the great unknown. The conversations between Gitanjali and the mahout are perhaps central to the book. They convey a pleasure of learning that cuts across barriers of age and status, all the nicer because it is so effortless. A fine book and not only for children."
– The Book Review

Ordinary Mr Pai

"Magic. The spirit and essence of the book ... In two wonderfully written stories set in modern Mumbai, the author portrays strong and loveable characters that any child can identify with easily. The narative, laced with witty sentences like, 'Now, you may not know it, but it is quite difficult to be ordinary,' won my heart straightaway. So did the excellent illustrations by Phani Tetali. This book is a good one to cuddle up with in bed ... "
– July-August 1999, Indian Review of Books

Andamans Boy

"If you have a heightened sense of adventure, then Zai Whitaker's latest book Andamans Boy is a delightful read. A plucky 10-year-old who runs away from a phlegmatic chacha and a nagging chachi; a fascinating tribe; exotic islands; burly policemen, smart poachers and slimy 'government types' – the book is a heady mix of everything witty and wild! ... 
     Whitaker captures the flavour of the islands and the bustling township of Port Blair rather well. Treating authority with sparkling irreverence, she draws the reader into looking at the world through a 10-year-old's eyes. The blurb on the book jacket suggests that it is for Age 10. Never mind. It's a treat for any age, any time – even for careworn adults who must rediscover the wonders of life."
– November 1998, Deccan Herald

" In Andamans Boy, author Zai Whitaker adroitly camouflages a concern for ecology and respect fir the rights of tribal people as an adventure story ...At every stage, the story is buoyed up by gentle humour. The series of sketchily-caricatured 'Inglish'-speaking adults Arif encounters amuse as much as they confuse the reader ...The glimpses into Jarawa customs are fascinating and Whitaker excels at describing the breathtaking landscape and the flora and fauna of the region."
– Indian Review of Books

"Though not a part of the target readership, it struck me that Zai addresses more than just 'kids' through this little adventure tale. Written with her characteristic felicity of expression, the book welcomes the reader into its folds from the very beginning and sustains interest thereon. At no point will the young reader be intimidated by the narrative or contrived elegance of language, yet the theme of the book is one that is bound to shake us adults out of our complacence that nothing goes wrong in a world when 'we are in charge'...
     In a milieu where young Indian readers are somewhat starved of indigenously written adolescent fiction, and where they have to rest contented with (or confused by) foreign books with which they can barely relate, Zai's latest work is a welcome arrival. Everything about it is closer 'home'. While this is an advantage to the young Indian reader, to the foreigner it is a good means to whet their curiosity about the land of Hindi and high drama! If the Newbery Award were extended to Indian works of adolescent fiction, Andamans Boy would be a certain contender for it!"
– 1999, The Kodai Road