When Sunil is sent to stay with his Uncle Vish, he doesn’t know quite what to expect. All he knows is that it’s a long way from the city to the jungles of Madhya Pradesh, and that his Uncle’s job is to protect the tigers that live there. Befriended by a little Adivasi girl called Jungu, Sunil soon has to face some tough questions. If the tigers are to survive, then the people must be moved out of the forest. But what will happen to Jungu and all the other Baiga villagers? Don’t they have a right to be there? And meanwhile, there’s a very real, very dangerous gang of poachers to be caught. Vithal Rajan’s delightful tale of an unusual friendship between a city boy and an Adivasi girl introduces children to the magical world of the Baigas, teaching them tolerance, respect and the importance of protecting the natural environment. Published by Zubaan.

Escapades of self-serving do-gooders, national leaders, babus, and other frauds, Indian and International.

As if being the new kids isn’t enough, Padma and Kannagi Shankar quickly find that New Dawn High School isn’t exactly a regular school. They have weird subjects like ‘Pot of Gold’ and ‘Maths and Beauty’ and some of their classes are taught by students! But it’s more strange than bad, and the sisters start to enjoy themselves and make new friends – until a discovery in the library and a few unpleasant encounters lead them to question their presence at the school in the first place. With their parents far away, and their Thatha not being the easiest person to talk to, the girls are forced to find solutions of their own – but will they work, or will the bullies win?

This simple, delightful picture book introduces youngsters to the importance of taking care of their own bodies. From simple tips on hygiene to an empowering message on how to distinguish safe and unsafe touch, Shruti Singhal’s visuals and text provide perfect reading material for talking about health, safety, and emotional and physical well-being with very young children. Using straight-forward language and charming illustrations, My Little Body Book helps parents and concerned adults give kids guidance they can understand, practice and use. Published by Young Zubaan.

A thick mist envelops an isolated house and a cottage atop a hill. Raseel, looks out from the window of her house and watches as the mist covers first the plants, then the trees and finally the cottage. Suddenly it parts, and three men come into view, furtive, quick. Then they’re gone. Minues later, Raseel hears the sound of shots. And then there is silence. The reader is pulled into Bijoya Sawian’s tense and dramatic story of the strange death of a dhkar, an outsider, in the beautiful hill town of Shillong in northeastern India. Why was he killed? Who are the killers? Are they known to the housekeeper and driver? As she begins to unravel this mystery, Raseel finds herself caught in a tale of intrigue and violence that mirrors the world of insurgency around her. In her lyrical, haunting prose, Bijoya Sawian paints a dark, threatening picture and shows how violence has tainted the very fabric of everyday life in a place that was once peaceful, untroubled and calm. “Shillong comes across as the hero of the story—the paradise that it once was and no longer. The author successfully captures the mood, the weather, the people, and the place... [Shadow Men] is unlike any other book I have read in a long time and you will love it too.” —Sonia Pressman Fuentes “In crisp, everyday conversations, the festering wounds of a splintered hill state are laid bare—the resentment brewing between the Khasis and the Garos, the downside of the traditional matrilineal system, the disconnect with mainstream India, crippling unemployment, drug and alcohol addiction, corrupt politicians, you get it all.” —Assam Tribune Published by Zubaan.