Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Chitra Soundar Books

A positive, life-affirming celebration of human diversity, from how we look, to how we think and how we celebrate

A charming look at diversity for younger readers, A Billion Ways to Be explains and celebrates the beauty and variety of humankind, showing that there are billions of different ways to look, be a family and have fun, and all are equal. It also reveals how much we all have in common. Featuring simple text and bright, inclusive illustrations, this book is a great, child-friendly introduction to important concepts and values, such as respecting difference, valuing yourself and practising kindness and tolerance.

A dream-ride of a bedtime book, inspired by ancient Indian lullabies.

Travel a lush dreamscape world as a father lulls his toddler towards sleep, weaving a quilt of dreams across the roaring seas and through the inky night – and dealing with some big toddler emotions en route. Sumptuously illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, and infused with the spirit and flora and fauna of India.

If you want to find out more about Diwali and the customs and traditions that surround the festival, this is a great book to explore with children in the early years.  It is a simple counting book, counting the lamps that light Diwali and with each additional lamp, a message is shared.

 The book is filled with bright illustrations and vibrant patterns that are a feast for the eyes. Each double spread shows a family, dressed in beautiful traditional Hindu dress for the festival of Diwali, explaining the meanings behind the festival of light.

Where there are words that might be unusual or unknown to some children, such as mithai, these are explained in a glossary at the back of the book along with more detailed information about the festival.

Children who are not Hindu but are of another religion or none can draw parallels with their own festivals and family traditions and so explore the links and synergies behind the messages of many religious or cultural festivals.

Here is a bunch of dung-dropping, sweet-stealing, luck-jinxing villains!

Four stories about young Prince Veera, who, along with his friend Suku, helps his father, the king, solve some of the problems he is having with his subjects. Trickster tales with lots of humour and colour, based on traditional Indian folktales.

Ballet Besties: Yara’s Chance to Dance is a delightful tale of friendship, determination, and the love of ballet. Yara is thrilled to join a new ballet class, finally learning in person rather than from videos. Her excitement is palpable as she makes new friends who share her passion. However, the story takes a dramatic turn when the formidable Mrs. C threatens to close down the beloved Shimmer and Shine Ballet School. Yara and her friends’ quest to save their ballet school is both heartwarming and inspiring, showing young readers the power of standing up for what they love. A book that younger readers won’t want to put down.

Sona Sharma, who lives in India, learns all about school elections, the ups and downs of best friends, and how to choose what matters most in life.

When Miss Rao announces that there’s going to be an election for Class Leader, Sona is excited to stand as a candidate – until she finds herself competing against her best friends, Joy and Renu.
When the three girls fall out, Sona must decide what matters most – winning the election or proving herself to be a true friend indeed. With the support of her wise family, perhaps Sona can learn that there is often more than one way to be a winner.

More exciting detective adventures featuring Sindhu and Jeet by Chitra Soundar, author of over 50 children’s books in the UK, India and the US.

Sindhu and Jeet are back to solve more cases with observation, imagination and a whole load of legwork. Back home in Chennai after their adventures in London (which featured in Sindhu and Jeet’s Detective Agency), the detective work doesn’t stop! These page-turning stories are accompanied by black-and-white illustrations by Amberin Huq. The Sindhu and Jeet books can be read in any order.

This is a great first chapter book for readers aged 6 or 7, plus an engaging way of learning about India and Indian culture.

Nikhil and Jay got to India with their family over the Christmas and New Year period. They are sad to leave their cat but very excited to visit their relatives in India. The story tells you about Christmas in India and the New Year celebrations held as well. Traditions, stories, culture and food are also explored in the story so it brings alive the feeling that the family are away from home experiencing new things.

At the end of the book, there are activities, a glossary and some facts about elements referred to in the story. This is a really good way for younger children to learn about a different country and culture, or to explore their heritage.

In these four interlinked stories about Nikhil and Jay and their family, there’s always fun and mischief. Grandad and Granny come to visit from India and show the boys that the best way to eat mangoes is in the bath! There’s a Star Birthday for Nikhil, with a special Indian Feast. Another day the family all go for a banana picnic in the park. Everyone is sad when it’s time for Granny and Grandad to go back to India, but Nikhil and Jay promise to send letters and pictures.

The Nikhil and Jay stories are perfect for children moving on from picture books to longer stories, helped by Soofiya’s lively and characterful illustrations.

Sindhu and Jeet are the best detectives in town: they solve all their cases with a dollop of observation, a dash of imagination and a whole load of legwork. And when they travel from India to England for a holiday, the detective work doesn’t stop! This page-turning story is accompanied by black-and-white illustrations by Amberin Huq.

The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With black-and-white illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyguidedreading.com.

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