In 1862, Victor Hugo wrote in Les Misérables, ‘To learn to read is to light a fire.’ Over a century later, the statement still rings true. For many of us, childhood memories often feature blissful afternoons spent lost in the enchanting world of books, or reading under the cover by the light of a torch long past our bedtimes.
Be it English, Hindi, Bengali or any other language, there’s a host of publishers who have reads perfect to capture the attention of your tot or teen. Here’s a curated list of some of the most popular children’s publishers, who are not only shaping the stories our youth grow up on but also nurturing the storytellers of the future.
Duckbill
Some popular titles from Duckbill
Established in 2012, Duckbill, a subset of Penguin Random House, has championed award-winning books for children and young adults for over a decade.
From the hOle book series
The acclaimed Hook Book and hOle Book series stand out as examples of their commitment to socially relevant themes presented with innovation. Tight plots and relatable characters make these books immensely popular with kids, who often find themselves as the protagonists.
Popular picks: Dreamers: Delightfully Illustrated Short Biographies to Inspire Young Readers by Lavanya Karthik, The Letter to Lahore (Songs of Freedom Series) by Tanu Shree Singh, the hOle and Hook series.
Pratham Books
This non-profit’s central aim is to boost India’s alarmingly low literacy rate. Since 2002, Pratham has published storybooks that are especially appealing to children. They have published in 26 Indian languages, as they believe that kids are most comfortable reading in their mother tongue. Their affordable Story Cards (mini storybooks) have been used by many organisations on a large scale to help millions of children read. Pratham has also invested in open-source digital and audio books to attract children towards reading. Kids can even access their open digital library for no additional cost at StoryWeaver.
Popular picks: Wild Cat! Wild Cat! By Sejal Mehta, Jadav and the Tree Place by Vinayak Varma
Karadi Tales
Based in Chennai, Karadi Tales was started by a group of writers, educators and musicians in 1996, to highlight Indian culture through children’s literature. One of their most prominent divisions is the Charkha series, featuring the biographies of eminent Indians like J.R.D. Tata, Mahatma Gandhi and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in the form of musical audiobooks. They also have a series titled Dreaming Fingers, comprising handmade picture books with text in Braille and English, especially created for visually impaired and differently abled young readers.
Popular Picks: Paati’s Rasam by Dhwani Sabesh and Janaki Ganesh, Looking for Laddoo by Aparna Karthikeyan, The Dragon’s Toothache by Annie Besant
Talking Cub
Talking Cub
An imprint of Speaking Tiger, they have worked with some of the best authors in the country including Ruskin Bond, Paro Anand, Ranjit Lal and Subhadra Sen Gupta to produce board books, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Talking Cub’s highly interactive Facebook page, introduces new releases, holds competitions, and more, engaging and challenging young minds.
Popular Picks: A Clown for Tenali Rama by Subhadra Sen Gupta, A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne, Aladdin and the Magic Lamp (from The Arabian Nights)
Puffin
Some evergreen classics from Puffin.
Another imprint of Penguin, Puffin, established in 1941, strikes a balance between classic children’s fiction and quality new literature. Adding approximately 150 titles to their catalogue every year, Puffin caters to all age groups with picture books, historical fiction, and critically acclaimed books for young adults. Legends like Roald Dahl and Jean Fritz grace their impressive author list.
Popular Picks: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Ronald Dahl, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Shishu Sahitya Samsad
Some evergreen classics from Shishu Sahitya Samsad
Founded by Mahendranath Dutt in 1951, Shishu Sahitya Samsad stands as the foremost choice when you aim to establish the groundwork for your child’s command over the Bengali language. In addition to offering an array of popular children’s books, like Chobite Ramayan, Chobite Mahabharat, Hasi Khushi and Hasi Rashi by Jogindranath Sarkar, Mojar Chhora by Bhabani Prasad Majumdar and Amar Chhora by Sunirmal Basu, the dictionaries from this heritage publishing house are also indispensable tools for proficiency in Bengali literature and language.
Popular picks: Alpa Bayas Kalpa Bayas by Shankha Ghosh, Chotoder Panchatanra, Chotoder Kathamala, Jataker Golpo, Kishor Sahitya by Mahasweta Devi, Nabaneeta Dev Sen and Moti Nandi, Nana Desher Nana Golpo, Chotoder Chora Kobita by Nirendranath Chakraborty, Chotoder Natok by Sunirmal Basu, Kishore Kabita Sanchayan, Bhugol Bichitra by Dr. Ajit Kr.Bera, Paribesh o Prakriti Parichay by Sujata Bhattacherjee, Eso Padi Itihas by Subarna Mukherjee, Jana Ajanar Katha by Bandiram Chakravorty, Chharar Chhabi
Ananda Publishers
Some evergreen classics from Ananda Publishers
Established in 1957, Ananda Publishers has consistently held a prominent position in the realm of publishing. Boasting a diverse array of offerings, from comics to fiction and non-fiction, Ananda Publishers’ stands are a delightful haven for budding readers. The house is renowned for its release of comics featuring Feluda and tales by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay. The captivating adventures of Tintin, Mitin Mashi Samagra by Suchitra Bhattacharya, and Gogol Samagra by Samaresh Basu contribute to a remarkable collection. Not to be overlooked is the engaging Pocket Bishwa series.
Popular picks: Amar Maa Sob Jane by Adrish Bardhan, Amader Mahabharat by Sunil Gangopadhyay, Acheen Deshe by Shree Khitish Prasad Chattopadhyay, Golpo Shonar Golpo Shono by Shailen Ghosh and more. In classics, Buro Angla by Abanindranath Tagore, Chander Pahar by Bibhuti Bhushan Bandyopadhyay and more.
Dev Sahitya Kutir
Some evergreen classics from Dev Sahitya Kutir
Since 1928, Dev Sahitya Kutir has been a stalwart in publishing timeless books for children. Founded by Asutosh Dev, the publishing house prints Shuktara, a popular children’s magazine. One of the most popular authors from this publishing house was Narayan Debnath, whose comic creations like Bantul The Great, Handa Bhonda, Bahadur Beral and Nonte Phonte are still liked by kids and adults alike.
Popular picks: Amader Vidyasagar by Rabidas Saha Roy, Boglamamar Kandokarkhana Samagra by Rajkumar Maitra, Bhoutik Omnibus by Manabendra Pal, Aloukik o Bhoutik Golpo by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, Harinarayan Chattopadhyayer Shrestho Golpo, Shuktarar 101 Roopkothar Golpo
Patra Bharati
Some evergreen classics from Patra Bharati
A kishor or kishori’s reading repertoire is incomplete without a Kishore Bharati collection — impossible to overlook! Kishore Bharati made its debut in 1968 under the leadership of Dinesh Chandra Chattopadhyay. Its mission and vision have been dedicated to curating books for young adults and teens, fostering writings that nurture curiosity and creativity. In 1981, Patra Bharati was founded, marking a journey from literature for young minds to diversifying its genre, especially during the era of Dinesh Chandra’s son, Tridib Kumar Chattopadhyay.
Popular picks: Kishore Bharati editions, Chotoder Joto Hasir Golpo by Tarapada Roy, Ek Kuri Ek Dojon and Jhuri Kuri Golpo by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Kishorebela by Samaresh Majumdar, Sohoj Kothay Mahakash, Sohoj Kothay Samudra, Sohoj Kothay Meru by Kamalbikash Bandyopadhyay