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India is culturally rich and diverse. It comes with a glorious and painful history. The land is large, and the population is larger still. Every heart holds dreams and every corner has a story to tell. A list this small cannot begin to capture the nuance of the lived experience here, but these children’s books tell a tiny part of it. One celebrates its visual wonders, some talk about family, one features the mighty yet soft elephants, and another is born out of partition. Each picture book introduces a child to the various ways we show agency and care, and access joy in a country bubbling with energy of all kinds.
Picture Books Set in India
Good Night India by Nitya Khemka & Kavita Singh Kale
This beautiful board book shows us a day in India from morning to night. We are greeted with its magnificent monuments and awe-inspiring sights from the Taj Mahal to the Golden Temple to the Charminar. The colours are vibrant, and this is a good introduction to some of the most significant architectural wonders in India.
Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani Lacrocca & Archana Sreenivasan
This heartwarming picture book brings together three generations of women. Sejal and her mom visit her Pati (grandmom) in India. Pati walks lands she’s always known, Mommy reminisces where she grew up, and everything is new for Sejal. The three of them decide to go to Kanyakumari, the place where three oceans meet. They delight in the sights and sounds. This intergenerational story explores the beauty of family and this country with bright yet soothing illustrations.
You’re Safe With Me By Chitra Soundar & Poonam Mistry
In this adorable picture book, nighttime means bedtime for baby animals. But tonight, there’s a storm, and they’re too scared to sleep. Mama Elephant reassures their every worry with the only words they really need, “You’re safe with me.” They believe her and find comfort despite the storm.
10 Gulab Jamuns by Sandhya Acharya & Vanessa Alexandre
This picture book made me smile a wide crinkled smile. Idu and Adu are excited that they have guests coming over and Mama is making gulab jamuns for dessert. She asks them not to eat them but they’re far too tempted. Not all is lost, though: they learn how to count and subtract, and even learn to take new gulab jamuns to replace the ones they finished. I had no idea counting could be made this fun!
The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India and a Hidden World of Art by Barb Rosenstock & Claire A. Nivola
India has a painful history of partition in 1947 where people had to migrate away from the only home they’d known. Nek Chand had to leave Pakistan and migrate to India with only stories left from his beloved homeland. He settled in Chandigarh and cleared out a restricted land in the jungle to make art. He collected what was considered scrap and rubbish by others and made beautiful mosaics and sculptures out of it. He managed to keep it a secret for 15 years until the government officials found it and wanted to destroy it. The locals came then to show support and save this Rock Garden. This picture book tells a less-known story from this time about displacement and solace found in art.
If you liked this list, also check out 8 Brilliant Books by Indian Authors Set in India and more kid lit from our children’s archive.
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