12 Indian Books Every Child Should Read

Here is a list of 12 Indian books every child should read. Our 17-year-old intern Nayana puts up the list.

Here is a list of 12 Indian books every child should read. Our 17-year-old intern Nayana puts up the list.

Reading is one of the finest of human habits. A child who reads grows up to be an adult who thinks. Here are 12 Indian books that every child should read.

The Mahabharata by Samhita Arni

The Mahabharata is a tale of war, one that Samhita Arni describes as ‘futile.’ She wrote this book when she was 12 years old, depicting the entire epic tale from a child’s point of view.

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Mayil Will Not Be Quiet! by Niveditha Subramaniam and Sowmya Rajendran

Those who read this fantastic book by Niveditha Subramaniam and Sowmya Rajendran will be transported into the life of Mayil, vicariously reliving her experiences as they read her diary entries. Mayil is a perky 12-year-old girl whom those of the same age will definitely be able to relate with.

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Malgudi Days by R. K. Narayan

Malgudi Days is a collection of stories that truly and wonderfully depicts India in all its forms. The stories all revolve around characters that live in an imaginary town called ‘Malgudi.’ This book is a classic and a must read for all Indian children.

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Padma Goes To Space by Shweta Prakash

All children are immersed in the vast universe of imagination, also known as their minds, captivating them into thinking that almost anything is possible. Padma is sure of a lot of things as well, most are what should indeed exist, like star-rock salad (how’s that for dieting). Your child will absolutely love this book as it’s a humorous look into the mind of a creative young girl.

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The Adventures of Toto The Auto by Ruta Vyas

We’ve all wanted to know what Auto-Rickshaws would be like after seeing Cars come to life in the Disney-Pixar movie. Now, your little ones can read about Toto going around town helping people and solving problems in the most delightful way.

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All About Nothing by Nina Sabnani and Deena Nayar

Here’s a quite entertainingly educational book that your child will adore! Based off an animation film made by Nina Sabnani, All About Nothing explores the phenomenon known as zero, and how in a land long before time, numbers didn’t exist.

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Gajapati Kulpati by Ashok Rajagopalan

Gajapati Kulpati is a book about an elephant, whose life is tossed and turned in a series of adventures. This piece by AshokRajagopalan will have your children reading out loud, straight from the fun title!

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The Why Why Girl by Mahasweta Devi

I’m sure you all know that children are very curious, and that most of their questions will have you either thinking: “How are you so curious?” or “Why are you so curious?” Moyna is full of questions, so much that the author calls her the why-why girl, because, why-why not?

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The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling

Before letting your child watch the movie adaptation of this tale that everyone knows and loves, make sure you read them the classic book by Rudyard Kipling. Mowgli, a young boy, learns valuable life lessons from Baloo and Bagheera while having tons of fun along the way.

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Ekki Dokki by Sandhya Rao

Ekki and Dokkiare twin sisters, the only thing different about them is the strands of hair on their heads. Follow them on their adventure of meeting an old woman in a forest, where they develop caring and compassionate attitudes.

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Tiger On A Tree by Anushka Ravishankar

What happens when we see the perspective of a tiger that is about to be captured? Tiger On A Tree is a book, indeed meant for children, where a peaceful outcome is seen through eye-popping illustrations.

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Cobra In My Kitchen by Zai Whitaker

Cobra In My Kitchen is a humorous, fascinating and interesting story about reptiles, birds and tigers, the perfect combination for any kid.

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Cover image via Shutterstock

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About the Author

Nayana

Currently a student, addicted to writing, eating, music and living life to the fullest. read more...

22 Posts | 97,005 Views

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