Tulika Awards New - Tulika Books

Awards

Recognition across cultures validates our belief in books that celebrate differences and the universality of experiences.

TULIKA AWARDS

BOOK AWARDS

2024

Parag Honour List

What Do We Name This Dog? (English)

A charming story of a dog who seems to belong to no one but who finally finds a name and a home. Diversity is naturally embedded in the story that shows the antics of the dog and the open-heartedness of the people. Beautiful illustrations add a layer in presenting the contemporary urban setting. A book full of love, for the dog and for the community that is joined together by its arrival.

Boom Boom

This compelling story of a young boy in rural Tamil Nadu, leading a life differently from the likely readers of this book, spotlights the precarious and deprived, yet free, existence of a child from a nomadic community, and the social context in which the family’s traditional occupation is abandoned. Neither school nor the care and comfort of family are in the picture. A thought-provoking read that can generate introspection and discussion.

Unknown Heroes Of India's Freedom Struggle

The term ‘freedom struggle’ conjures images of iconic leaders, yet there were millions of others who contributed to India’s independence, displaying remarkable courage and sacrifice at their own small levels. Journalist P. Sainath documents the lives of these lesser-known figures, many in their twilight years. The graphic format brings their stories alive in this fascinating children’s version.

2023

Atta Galatta- Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize – Winner, Non-Fiction for young readers

Unknown Heroes of India’s Freedom Struggle

How does one make any story of India’s freedom struggle relevant to a generation that is entirely disconnected from the period? (Possibly even beyond doing those ‘annual costume dramas of the freedom struggle’ for their school on January 26 and August 15!) Hand them this book. P Sainath’s Unknown Heroes of India’s Freedom Struggle gave me goosebumps while I was reading it. It is a rich repository of India’s freedom movement, of those freedom fighters whose stories have been lost in the sands of time. Tulika Graphix does a wonderful job with the illustrations and design that talk to young people. This is one book that promises to initiate many a discussion in history classes and book clubs. It is a must-read, not only for children.

Room to Read Children’s Literature Award – Runner-Up, Picture book of the year (3-8 years)

We Are The Dancing Forest (Hindi)

Room to Read Children’s Literature Award – Winner, Young Author (3-8 years)

God's Little Ant (Hindi)

Green Literature Festival Honour Book Award - Honour Book

We Are The Dancing Forest

Valley Of Words Book Awards – Winner, Writings/Picture book for children

Jhupli’s Honey Box

Valley Of Words Book Awards – Longlist

We Are The Dancing Forest

Neev Book Awards, Early years – Shortlist

We Are The Dancing Forest

Mehlli Gobhai Children's Book Illustrator Award - Shortlisted

Boom Boom

Mehlli Gobhai Children's Book Illustrator Award - Shortlisted

We Are the Dancing Forest

Binod Kanoria Children's Book Award- Longlist (Illustration)

Jhupli’s Honey Box

Binod Kanoria Children's Book Award- Longlist (Early Readers)

Shorewalk

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

God's Little Ant

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Many Colours Of us

The White Ravens Catalogue, Germany

We Are the Dancing Forest (Hindi)

The joyful song ... is brimming with onomatopoeic words, repetition, and rhymes that contain a multitude of cultural references and invite children to sing along. It is an ode to Mother Earth, her rivers, forests, flowers, and native animals, as well as to the indigenous people of the Indian subcontinent.

Parag Honour List

Jokhu and the Big Scare

A fun picture book about a monster or jokhini, sourced from Assamese folklore, but given a modern twist. The central character of Jokhu is wildly illustrated and perhaps the idea is that scary monsters need not always be either feared or defeated, but can also be befriended.

Shorewalk

An insider’s view of the deep relationship that communities share with the sea and all the life in it. The sensitivity and voice of the narrative, the depth of content and excellent images make the book a wonderful example of narrative non-fiction.

Toka Box – Top South Asian Book Awards

Many Colours of Us!

USBBY Outstanding International Books List

Jhupli's Honey Box

2022

Children’s & Young Adult Publisher Award, London Book Fair International Excellence Awards – Winner

Judges recognised the organisation’s “clear publishing philosophy and the commitment that they show in their publishing programme to create books for a wide group of young readers in different languages”.

Jhupli's Honey Box

Neev Book Award – Winner, Early Years

Bumoni's Banana Trees

"A little girl must save her family's banana trees. For Bumoni and her community, the banana tree is not only a major source of livelihood and sustenance but also daily essentials. Clever little Bumoni comes up with a great idea to keep the elephants away from her previous banana trees while helping the large creatures. Mita Bordoloi tells a powerful tale of human-animal conflict set in Assam, which addresses modern problems related to sustainability, our carbon footprint, and co-existence with endangered species."

Green Literature Festival Honour Book Award

Bumoni's Banana Trees

Neev Book Award – Shortlisted, Junior Readers

Uncle Nehru, Please Send an Elephant!

Parag Honour List

Animal Alphabet

Parag Honour List

My Name Is Gulab

Parag Honour List

Noon Chai And A Story

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Gular Flower

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

A Home of Our Own

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

My Name is Gulab

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Kayu's World is Round

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Mama, What Is The Night?

2021

Neev Book Award – Winner, Young Adult

Oonga

"This novel uses the adventure story as a vehicle to explore how tribal protectors and conservators of nature can be historically marginalised and misunderstood by those in power. It helps young readers and adults see how we might move closer to stewardship by viewing the earth as tribal people do, and away from ownership and the resultant devastation that comes from the urban 'developmental' viewpoint. This book is remarkable for building a powerful thematic structure by controlling several interacting leitmotifs. These interacting ideas bring within the novel's scope a staggering range of subtexts from hope in human wisdom to near despair at human depravity."

Parag Honour List

A Saree For Ammi

Parag Honour List

Zakir And His Tabla: Dha Dhin Na

Toka Box – Top South Asian Book Awards

Bumoni's Banana Trees

"We think Tulika has perfected the art of the picture book. There is something extraordinary about Bumoni's Banana Trees by Mita Bordoloi. While many picture books are based on a true story, this book actually came true! I won't spoil the ending of the book because it is exciting and holds your attention till the very end."

United Nations Sustainable Development Reading Goals Book Club

Out Of The Way! Out Of The Way!

United Nations Sustainable Development Reading Goals Book Club

Big Rain

2020

Neev Book Award – Winner, Emerging Readers

Srinivasa Ramanujan: Friend of Numbers

“Throughout the book the author shares facts about Ramanujan in interesting ways by narrating them as small, funny situations and moments. Can you imagine a world famous mathematician failing in all other subjects and not getting a good job?... I would recommend this book to all young readers and anybody with big dreams.”

Neev Book Award – Shortlisted, Picture Book

Ammama’s Sari (Wordless)

“Each character is beautifully portrayed: the father, the child, the baby, and the cats. Each of them is a part of the storyline, which is beautifully woven around recycling, in this short and nice story."

Neev Book Award – Shortlisted, Picture Book

The Gular Flower

“Have you ever been stopped from doing something you really wanted to do just because people thought it was silly?... I want to nominate this book for the ‘Best Life Lesson Award’.”

Parag Honour List

I Didn't Understand

Parag Honour List

Lila’s Loose Tooth (English)

Parag Honour List

The Runaway Peacock

Parag Honour List

Adventures of the Humongoose Family

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Bhimrao Ambedkar: The Boy Who Asked Why

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Red

Toka Box – Top South Asian Book Awards

It's My Colour

“Apart from breathtaking illustrations, the book explores colors in a new and fantastic light.... This book is filled with possibilities … unusual details and pictures but perfectly plausible in a child’s fantastical world!”

Toka Box – Top South Asian Book Awards

Gajapati Kulapati Kalicha Kulicha

“It’s been four years since we saw India’s most adorable elephant… Ashok Rajagopalan brings him trumpeting back into our homes with much fanfare and charm!… We also love that the cow in the book says ‘mbaa’ instead of ‘moo’!

Toka Box – Top South Asian Book Awards

Zakir and His Tabla

“When one of the greatest children’s writers in India writes about one of the greatest musicians in India and you have one of India’s most celebrated artists illustrate the book, then you simply HAVE to pick up that book!... The best part of the book is the rhythm and the bols that pulsate through the story.”

United Nations Sustainable Development Reading Goals Book Club

A Home of Our Own

United Nations Sustainable Development Reading Goals Book Club

Water Stories from Around the World

The White Ravens Catalogue

Guthli has Wings

2019

Literary Translation Initiative Award, London Book Fair – Winner

“Tulika is a unique and important initiative. Its ambitious, energetic and inclusive publishing programme is driven by a real social imperative, to promote multilingualism and give children stories in the languages they speak at home. Resisting the absolute dominance of English is vital work, and Tulika does that work with charm and humour.”

Bal Sahitya Puraskar, Sahitya Akademi – Winner

India Through Archaeology: Excavating History

“…a deeply engaging, informative and stimulating book ... Cariapa’s short forays into world archaeology encourage children to form a picture of the interconnectedness of ideas, events and influences in our history…. Simply written, attractively produced, the book offers a lively and fascinating narrative of immediate and compelling interest for children.”

Neev Book Award – Shortlisted, Picture Book

Red

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

I Planted a Seed

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Unhappy Moon

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Stitching Stories

Publishing Next Industry Awards – Runner-up

Soda and Bonda

Publishing Next Industry Awards – Shortlisted

Red

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Satya's Boat

2018

Neev Book Award – Winner, Picture Book

I Will Save My Land

"This thoughtful book raises many interesting themes including gender equality, land rights, and the costs of urbanisation. The author and illustrator together present a complex theme to young children in an accessible manner. Together, they have crafted a strong protagonist with an authentic voice, an evocative setting, and a compelling narrative."

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Kanna Panna

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Gajapati Kulapati: Gurrburrrrooom!

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Salim the Knife-Sharpener

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Dream Writer

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

The Talking Bird

Publishing Next Industry Awards – Winner

Salim Mamoo and Me

“…a striking example of how a biography can be narrated to children – in a manner that is personal and yet relatable. The book creates an entirely new universe through its story and art, and shows how images, in their framing and perspective, can add an additional and vital layer to the story.”

South Asia Book Awards – Honor Book

Maharani the Cow

The Hindu-Young World Goodbooks Award – Winner, Best Picture Book, Illustrations

Maharani the Cow

The Hindu-Young World Goodbooks Award – Winner, Best Picture Book, Story

Gone Grandmother

The Hindu-Young World Goodbooks Award – Winner, Best Book, Fiction

The Boy With Two Grandfathers

The Hindu-Young World Goodbooks Award – Winner, Best Book, Non-Fiction

India Through Archaeology: Excavating History

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Minu and her Hair

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

My Mother’s Sari

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Balu’s Basket

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

A Walk With Thambi

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Gajapati Kulapati

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Dungi Dance

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Neelu’s Big Box

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Raindrops

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Rooster Raga

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Where is Amma?

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Catch That Cat!

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

The Lonely King and Queen

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Wings to Fly

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Kali and the Rat Snake

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Magnificent Makhna

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Under the Neem Tree

Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary

Bhimrao Ambedkar: The Boy Who Asked Why

Peek-a-Book Children's Choice Awards

Shrinking Vanita

2017

South Asia Book Awards – Honor Book

Unhappy Moon

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

The Rooster and the Sun

Jarul Book Award – Shortlisted

Putul and the Dolphins

Publishing Next Industry Awards – Shortlisted

Ammachi’s Glasses

Publishing Next Industry Awards – Shortlisted

Gone Grandmother (Hindi)

South Asia Book Awards – Honor Book

When Bholu Came Back

The Hindu-Young World Goodbooks Award – Shortlisted

Unhappy Moon

2016

The Hindu-Young World Goodbooks Award – Winner, Best Book, Non-fiction

The House That Sonabai Built

The Hindu-Young World Goodbooks Award – Honour Book, Non-fiction

Gender Talk: Big Hero, Size Zero

USBBY Outstanding International Books List

The House That Sonabai Built

Crossword Book Awards – Shortlisted

Our Incredible Cow

Darsana National Awards – Winner, Excellence in Children's Book Production

Bhimrao Ambedkar: The Boy Who Asked Why

Children's Choice Awards

My Gandhi Story

2015

Bal Sahitya Puraskar, Sahitya Akademi – Winner

Mayil Will Not Be Quiet

“Important adolescent issues such as gender stereotyping are treated with flair and sensitivity. The narrative is self-reflexive and depicts how Mayil develops a sense of her own identity as a writer, while dealing with coming-of-age issues with humour and passion.”

South Asia Book Awards – Honor Book

Bhimrao Ambedkar: The Boy Who Asked Why

Darsana National Awards – Winner, Excellence in Children's Book Production

The House That Sonabai Built

Federation of Indian Publishers – Winner, Excellence in Children's Book Production

The House That Sonabai Built

Parents' and Kids' Choice Awards – Winner, Best Indian Children's Book

Rooster Raga

2014

Publisher of the Year, Publishing Next Industry Awards – Winner

“For their dedication to promoting attractive, engaging and high-quality books in various languages around the country, and for managing to widen their distribution in a difficult climate.”