Nita Bhuva is a homemaker who keeps alive her interest in language and literature. She has translated several of Tulika's titles into Gujarati.
"Are you there, Amma?" "Are you inside, Amma?" Kiran looks everywhere for his mother – in the kitchen, in the balcony, and even in the unlikeliest of places! Charming watercolours make this book one warm and irresistible hide-and-seek story. 2018: Best of Indian Children's Writing: Contemporary
Suddenly the lights go off and the house is plunged into darkness. There’s a power cut! Mother lights a candle, and there begins a game of elephant, cat, deer, snake and more. Then the power comes back. Where do the animals go?
Dinaben is a Maldhari and her village is right in the middle of the Gir forest where the lions live. How does she live? What does she do? This book offers glimpses into the many aspects of life in the forest through simple text and photographs. CBSE recommended
Aana the elephant doesn't like his looks, but his friend Chena the yam says he's beautiful. How? asks Aana. Endearing conversation and pictures that say, be yourself!
One naughty little cat with an orange tail and pointy ears is lost! Minnie goes looking for her Pooni, and steps onto a busy city street filled with people to talk to and things to look at. Writer-artist-cartoonist Manjula Padmanabhan’s humour-filled pictures with delightful details invite us to join in the search – for the cat who is always just one step...
The tiger, a popular character in Korean art and folktales, is a villain in this origin tale which has illustrations inspired by kamishibai, Japanese paper theatre. Having gobbled up the rice cake-seller and all her rice cakes, the tiger chases her two small children. But they escape. And the tiger? Although in the traditional ending the tiger too dies,...
What happens when two children find themselves wandering the night in a forest? It is a world of giant trees, sudden sounds and unseen shadows. The arresting black and white illustrations convey the author's own curiosity and wonder at the natural world in this almost wordless picture drama.
Based on a real friendship between the author’s niece and a tree, this heartwarming story reflects on the true relationship between human beings and nature. Rich colours set off against stark white give the illustrations a dramatic quality.
Every morning, Ajji's village is decorated with rangolis. Also called muggu, kolam, alpona... these are dots, lines, flower designs. Found on the ground, on the wall, everywhere. Food for ants and fun for birds, dogs and children! The illustrations carry the exuberance of these earthy patterns.
When the clouds begin to rumble, out tumbles the naughty wind Jhakkad. Oooo... he blows looking for mischief. The rich, evocative illustrations sweep the reader through this one stormy night.
How did the Warlis first begin to paint their walls with shining, white images? The paintings of the Warli people of Maharashtra are famous worldwide for their simplicity as much as liveliness. Beginning with the story of little Shirvi who wants to give her parents a happy surprise, author Shamim Padamsee takes a whimsical journey into how the art may...
A farmer shouts at the sun because it is too hot to work in the field. The sun gets upset, goes away and refuses to return. Finally, a rooster tricks the sun to shine again – every day from then on. This engaging tale is based on a folktale of the Ao tribe in Nagaland. The artist-animator's illustrations are luminous and dynamic, based on his animation...
Thom! It lands on Kuttan’s toes. Dheem! He kicks and up it goes. The pages of this book resound with the rhythm of dance as Abu's big red ball bounces in tune with the delightful illustrations. CBSE recommended
A beginner bilingual book that very simply and visually introduces fundamental concepts. Starting at either end, the circles of identities, similarities and differences narrow down until the child finally finds himself or herself at the centre of the book.
Radha draws a circle – but it keeps running away! This is a book that draws beginner readers into the imaginative play of a child's mind. The pictures are enticingly wild and evocative and children will love looking for the circle in the pictures.
Norbu's father buys him a pair of yellow shoes. But then a monkey comes along, mistakes the shoes for bananas, and whisks them away! This simple bilingual book with strong, stylised illustrations introduces beginner readers to sights typical to Sikkim. CBSE recommended
Malli's uncle and his family from the city have come to her village. She wants to take some gifts for them but has only one rupee. However, as she sets off on her way, her little basket slowly fills up… This story is about the joy of simple surprises. The exuberant illustrations carry the feel of rural Tamil Nadu with bright colours and strong lines.
A small boy loves colour. So he paints his hair green and his legs blue. Then he picks up his brush again and…? A simple bilingual book for beginner readers, with repetition for easy language learning. The dramatic illustrations draw children into an imaginative and inspiring world of colour.
The famous storyteller, Gorannagaru, is in the village to recite the Ramayana. Bangaramma forces her husband, Penchilayya, to attend. Tired and sleepy, he goes quite unwillingly – and finds the stories sweet one night, salty another! Bangaramma is intrigued... A gentle folktale from Andhra Pradesh about the magic of stories, with pictures in the style of...
Sunu-sunu the snail is playing with his friends, the ants. Suddenly there is a storm. He ‘hurries' home to his mother and tells her all he saw and heard. With repetitive sound words creating the mood, eloquent illustrations evoke a snail's-eye view of the storm in his world – the garden!
An endearing Marathi folktale about two sisters. Ekkesvali has one hair on her head. Dhonkesvali has two and thinks she's great. What happens when they meet an old woman who lives alone in a clearing right in the middle of the forest? This folktale takes on a special joyousness with Ranjan De's stylised representations and is full of interesting details...
From a sorrowful Sita to a resolute Razia, little Nina has played them all. Everyone calls her a fine actress. But Nina is at a loss when she’s given the role of Kasturba – after all Kasturba was only Gandhiji’s wife. Wasn’t she? Confused, she starts preparing for the play, and soon discovers that an ‘ordinary’ wife can be quite an extraordinary person.
Graa-aaa-aaa-ooo-oon! Every time Beni Ram tries to sell his camel, Bholu promptly trots back. “The villagers use vans now instead of camel-carts. Nobody wants to give your old man a job anymore,” says a gloomy Beni Ram. But fate has surprising plans for the out-of-luck Beni Ram and his beloved camel... The warm and vivid illustrations beautifully capture...
On a trip to the Taj Mahal, Minnie secretly brings Pooni along though animals aren’t allowed in. But wait – the naughty cat slips off on her own adventure! After Where’s That Cat? Manjula Padmanabhan takes us on another Pooni chase, the drama this time set against the magnificent backdrop of the Taj Mahal. Enjoy a lively tour!
