"So very immediate and child friendly.”
Through children’s books, South Asian authors craft unforgettable and spellbinding narratives.
These authors include Indian, Bengali, Sri Lankan, and Pakistani writers.
The stories we share with children play a huge part in shaping their understanding of themselves and others.
They blend cultural heritage, representation, and imagination to create new and exciting stories in children’s books.
This list includes books about identity and self-confidence and stories of heroism and grief. It has something for every child.
Join DESIblitz as we dive into 1o children’s books with South Asian authors.
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh – Supriya Kelkar
This book follows Harpreet Singh, a little boy who loved his colours. When his family moves to a new city, everything feels grey.
Now, he needs to find a way to make his life bright again.
Harpreet has a different colour for every mood and occasion, from pink for dancing to bhangra beats to red for courage.
He is especially concerned about his patka, he is always smoothing it out and ensuring it matches his outfit.
When Harpeet’s mum finds a new job in a snowy city, they have to move and he wants to be invisible.
Will he ever feel a happy, sunny, and yellow day again?
One reviewer said: “Oh, I loved this! Who can’t relate to wanting to feel invisible sometimes?
“This is simply a great, beautiful, representative and diverse children’s book.
“The author’s note at the end explains a little about why Sikhs cover their heads, and I learned a little something.
“But this book is more than just about a kid in a patka, it is about him being happy, brave, sad, lonely and friendly.”
Amma, Tell me about Holi! – Bhakti Mathur
Bhakti Mathur’s book tells the magical story of Holi- the Indian festival of colours.
The story is told to a little boy, Klaka, by his Amma.
First, it is a story of colours and fun, naughty young Krishna, and Radha, his loved one.
Next, we celebrate the end of an evil fraud, a monstrous king who thought he was God.
He threatened his son, who did not think him divine, but against the evil king, faith and miracles did align.
It is a story of faith, devotion, and love passed down to children from generations above.
This children’s book is written in verse, and it features enchanting storytelling and magnificent illustrations, making it a fabulous read for children.
Billy and the Beast – Nadia Shireen
While walking in the woods, Billy and her trusty sidekick, Fatcat hear a terrible rumble.
A horrific rumble coming from a Terrible Beast!
He’s making a Terrible Soup out of all of Billy and Fatcat’s friends!
Luckily, the brave heroine, Billy, has a trick or two up her sleeve – or in her hair!
Join quick-thinking Billy on her mission to defeat the Terrible Beast and save those adorable little bunny rabbits too.
Young readers will adore this hilarious story, packed with playful, energetic and simple-to-read text.
The Guardian said: “[It is] a great story for everyone, especially those not used to seeing themselves centre stage.”
Rani Reports on the Missing Millions – Gabrielle and Satish Shewhorak
This book follows Rani Ramgoolam- a roving reporter.
She thinks she has found the perfect story for the junior journalism competition run by the local paper.
An eccentric millionaire creates a treasure hunt with a reward for the first person who figures out the clues.
Luckily for Rani, her mischievous Nani is visiting from Mauritius.
She promises to help Rani figure out what a priceless painting, a minotaur, and a glass eye have in common.
Then there is Cookie, her parrot, but she is still determining if he will be of much help.
But the race is on, and she needs all the help she can get. This is especially true when some people resort to sneaky tricks to win the prize.
A fan of the book said: “Another one that’s been on my shelf for a while. I enjoyed it.
“I loved the relationship between Rani and her Nani.
“I loved going on their search with them. Some twists I didn’t see coming and some great lessons to be learned.”
That’s Not My Name! – Anoosha Syed
Mirha is so excited for the first day of school!
She can’t wait to learn, play and make new friends. But when her classmates mispronounce her name, she goes home wondering if she should find a new one.
Maybe then she’d be able to find a monogrammed keychain at the gas station or order a hot chocolate at the café more easily.
When Mama helps Mirha see just how special her name is, she returns to school the next day, determined to help her classmates say it correctly, even if it takes a hundred tries!
This features beautiful, vibrant illustrations with an empowering message at its core.
Another author, Lian Cho, said: “As someone who grew up constantly having their name mispronounced, this book really hit home.
“Anoosha’s debut speaks out to all those who’ve struggled with accepting their beautiful name and is a wonderful reminder for children and adults everywhere that names are a big part of our identity.
“It made my heart swell to see the main character, Mirha, overcome her insecurities and shyness to speak up and let others know that they’re wrong.
“The impact this book will have on children who have names that are deemed ‘hard’ to pronounce will be so great.”
Dadaji’s Paintbrush – Rashmi Sirdeshpande
In this beautiful story of a boy losing his beloved grandfather, the author shows that bereavement can be the beginning – not an ending.
In a tiny village in India, there was a young boy who loved to paint.
He lived with his grandfather, or ‘Dadaji’, who taught him to paint with his fingers and to make paints from marigolds and brushes from jasmine flowers.
Dadaji loves to teach others how to paint, especially his grandson.
But after Dadaji passes away, the boy can’t bear to use the favourite paintbrush that his grandfather left for him.
When a little girl knocks on the door, the boy discovers how many lives Dadaji touched with his art and finds a way to continue his legacy.
From South Asian author Rashmi Sirdeshpande and illustrator Ruchi Mhasane comes a lushly illustrated tale of love, art and family.
My Story: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh – Sufiya Ahmed
It’s 1908, and Princess Sophia, daughter of the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire and the goddaughter of Queen Victoria is struggling to see how she can contribute to society.
A chance encounter with a suffragette opened Sophia’s eyes to women’s inequality.
Has Sophia found her purpose in life, and can she transport out of her pampered Royal world into the heart of the battle to win women’s right to vote?
One reviewer said: “I had never heard of this heroine before I read the book.
“Sufiya Ahmed writes an amazing biography and sets the historical record straight that it was not just white women who fought in the Suffragette movement.
“This children’s book is historically important as well as taking us on a journey of a princess with privilege who chooses to carve her own identity.”
Another said: “An excellent synopsis of the life of this amazing woman, written in the first person. So very immediate and child friendly.”
Stolen History: The Truth About The British Empire and How It Shaped Us – Sathnam Sanghera
You’ve probably heard the word ‘empire’ before.
Perhaps because of the Roman Empire. Or maybe even the Star Wars films.
But what about the British Empire? What even is an empire, anyway?
This children’s book answers all the important questions about Britain’s imperial history.
It explores how Britain’s empire once made it the most powerful nation on earth and how it still affects our lives in many ways.
This includes our words, food, and sports. It also encompasses every adult’s fixation with a good cup of tea.
How can we ever make the world a kinder and better place if we don’t know the truth about the past?
This is an accessible, engaging and essential introduction to the British Empire for readers aged over nine.
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family – Ibtihaj Muhammad
This is a ground-breaking picture of religion, sisterhood and identity.
Asiya’s hijab is like the ocean and the sky, with no line between them, saying hello with a loud wave.
It’s Faizah’s first day of school and her older sister Asiya’s first day of hijab – made of beautiful blue fabric.
But not everyone sees the hijab as beautiful. In the face of hurtful, confusing words, will Faizah find new ways to be strong?
This book is from Olympic medallist and celebrated author Ibtihaj Muhammad, paired with the beautiful illustrations of Hatem Aly.
It is an uplifting picture book featuring a universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond shared by siblings and being proud of who you are.
One reader on Goodreads said: “This book is gorgeous! Empowering and celebratory of Muslim girls who are hijabis and their families.
“The is the type of children’s book that will help kids feel seen and help other kids become more understanding.”
Stories for South Asian Supergirls – Raj Kaur Khaira
This book follows the fascinating stories of 60 women from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bhutan.
South Asian girls will have the chance to dream about lives for themselves that radically differ from the limited narratives written for them by their culture, wider society and the media.
They include the prominent suffragette Sophia Duleep Singh and the Indian princess who spied for Britain in World War II Noor Inayat Khan.
The world’s first elected female Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, is also present here.
Stories for South Asian Supergirls seeks to redress the imbalance for young girls of colour by empowering them to break new ground for themselves and to inspire others in the process.
Ten renowned South Asian female artists beautifully illustrate the biographies, and it is a treasure for children and parents alike.
One reviewer commented: “Some well-known trailblazers, others less so.
“Nonetheless, loved seeing all these South Asian women profiled for their efforts in bringing equality to the forefront of their cause from centuries ago.
“Also fascinated by the incredible talent of the illustrators; loved reading their bios at the end as well to see how they’re paving the way for future generations to pursue their creative dreams.”
These books are more than just stories for South Asian children.
They provide them with universal experiences through a lens that is familiar to them and makes them feel seen.
Embracing diverse stories for children helps to build a more inclusive world where children understand each other better.
By sharing these children’s books, South Asian authors are uplifted, and new perspectives are brought to the forefront of mainstream literature.
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