Indian books for children form an important part of early education for young readers. Stories of culture, family, and tradition should be shared from a young age to help kids foster an appreciation for their ethnic identity.
Kids will love to read about the festival of lights, deities, fairytales, and marvelous places in India. Here are 36 of the best books for Indian children to put them in touch with their cultural heritage.
1. The Story of Diwali: Rama & Sita by Jay Anika
Indian children will learn about the tale of how the festival of lights, Diwali, came to be. It is a wonderful book depicting Indian culture in an easy-to-understand way for young readers.
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2. Tomatoes for Neela by Padma Lakshmi
Much of Indian culture is rooted in the love and understanding of traditional food. Neela is learning this from her Amma and they embark on a cooking journey to make her Amma's famous sauce. It is a celebration of foods written by one of the most famous Indian chefs in the world.
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3. P is for Poppadums! by Kabir and Surishtha Sehgal
Alphabet books are the perfect books for very young kids with vibrant illustrations introducing them to letters. This wonderful book takes inspiration from Indian life with concepts like "y is for yoga" and "c is for chai".
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4. Festival of Colors by Surishtha and Kabir Sehgal
The vibrancy of Holi is brought to life with magnificent color illustrations and a beautiful story. Mintoo and Chintoo start preparing color powder as the festival gets closer and they are ready to celebrate the fresh start that spring brings in this charming Indian book.
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5. American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar
This is the perfect first chapter book for readers as young as 8 years old. It follows the journey of a young girl struggling with her Indian identity while living an American Life. It offers a relatable story that has been written with young readers in mind making it a great middle school book.
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6. The Indian Dance Show by Radhika Sen
The beauty of Indian dance is one of the most prized treasures of Indian culture. This wonderful book sheds light on the 12 stunning dance styles from India through vivid color illustrations and a fun rhyming style of storytelling.
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7. Baby Sangeet by Aparna Pandey
Kids will adore this interactive book for children that features melodies played with traditional instruments. Kids can press the buttons and hear music and poetry that will help them develop a deeper appreciation for Indian culture at a young age.
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8. Same, Same But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
Elliot and Kailash are penpals that are amazed at how different their lives are. But they soon realize that despite their differences, there are so many similarities too! All young boys like to climb trees, go to school, and adore their pets. See where else they can find common ground in this wonderful book about friendship.
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9. The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk by Surishtha and Kabir Sehgal
The ever-popular children's rhyme "The Wheels on the Bus" has been given a new lease on life. This adorable book captivates Indian children as the tuk-tuk goes on all kinds of crazy adventures in the streets of India.
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10. Indian Children's Favorite Stories: Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales by Rosemarie Somaiah
Indian children will love the retelling of 8 famous Indian fairytales and fables. The wonderful story of Sukhu and Dukhu is a firm favorite along with the powerful story of Munna and the Grain of Rice.
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11. Bravo Anjali! by Sheetal Sheth
Anjali is a fantastic tabla player but she starts to dim her light as kids are mean to her. Jealousy has truly made them nasty and Anjali struggles with pursuing what she loves and trying to fit in. It is a beautiful story about using your talents and forgiving others.
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12. Let's Celebrate Being Indian-American by Sharan Chahal-Jaswal
Suri is of Indian descent but she is living an American life. She takes readers on a journey through festivals of the year, celebrating both her American and Indian life in the most spectacular fashion.
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13. Bindu's Bindis by Supriya Kelkar
Bindu loves to keep her family traditions alive by wearing colorful bindis. Her Nanu brings her some new bindis from India and she wears them with pride to the school talent show. Her bindis become a great source of power and confidence as she lets her light shine bright.
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14. This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World by Matt Lamothe
This is a wonderful book to show kids how we are all connected, despite vast physical distances. The book features 7 children, including Anu from India, that takes you on a journey through a day in their lives.
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15. Diwali (Celebrate the World) by Hannah Eliot
The festival of lights is a highlight of the festive calendar that many Indian children look forward to the most. This lovely book teaches kids all about Diwali, where it came from, and what it means in Indian culture today.
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16. Good Night India (Good Night Our World) by Nitya Khemka
Say goodnight to all the marvelous sights and sounds of India with this wonderful story. Indian children will adore the magnificent color illustrations of their favorite landmarks, animals, and destinations from all around India.
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17. Ganesha's Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes
Just like most Indian children, Ganesha loves sweets! But one day, he breaks off his tusk when chomping on a laddoo, a mouth-watering Indian snack food. His mouse friend and the wise poet Vyasa show him how something broken might not be so bad after all.
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18. The History of India for Children - (Vol. 2): From The Mughals To The Present by Archana Garodia Gupta and Shruti Garodia
Help Indian children learn all about Indian people, their struggle for independence, and various other times in history. This is a great middle school book filled with beautiful photos, fun facts, and tons of activities.
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19. Dancing Devi by Priya S. Parikh
This is a wonderful story about Devi, a very talented young Bharatanatyam dancer. But no matter how hard she tries, she keeps making mistakes. It is a powerful story about perseverance and being kind to yourself in the midst of failure.
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20. My First Hindi Words by Reena Bhansali
This is the perfect book for young Indian children to be introduced to their first Hindi words. It does not use the Indian alphabet and each word comes with a beautiful color illustration and phonetic pronunciation.
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21. Janma Lila: The Story of Krishna's Birth in Gokula by Madhu Devi
Share this lovely book with kids to tell them the wonderful story of the birth of Krishna. King Nanda Maharaj and his wife Yashoda long for the blue boy that has come to them in dreams but when will he finally be theirs?
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22. Gift for Amma: A Market Day in India by Meera Sriram
A girl explores the vibrant market of her hometown, Chennai, in this lively book. She is looking for a gift for her Amma but also discovers the treasures hidden within the market. The colors, smells, and sounds of Indian life are like no other and this lovely book teaches children to appreciate its beauty.
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23. Classic Tales from India: How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head and Other Stories by Vatsala Sperling and Harish Johari
Indian people love sharing their stories of culture and faith, all perfectly illustrated in this lovely book. Read the beautiful story of how Parvati won the heart of Shiva and enjoy the epic story of how Ganesh got his elephant head.
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24. American Desi by Jyoti Rajan Gopal
This is a powerful story about a girl whose parents came from South Asia and are now trying to live an American life. Where does she fit in? It is an Indian-American tale about the value of being bicultural and expressing yourself however you like.
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25. Binny's Divali
Binny loves the festival of lights and wants to share it with her class. Diwali, the most spectacular festival in South Asia, fascinates the kids and teaches them about India through a story of culture and traditional pride.
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26. Moral Tales From Panchtantra: Timeless Stories For Children From Ancient India by Wonder House Books
Like many Indian books, this one aims to share a story of culture, teach lessons, and head warnings about moral duties. It is a lovely book from South Asia that shares imaginative stories with Indian children.
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27. Illustrated Ramayana For Children: Immortal Epic of India by Wonderhouse Books
The powerful story of Ramayana by Valmikis tells of how good triumphed over evil thanks to the heroism of Lord Ramas and the devotion of his consort Sima. It is the perfect book for children to introduce to the magnificent stories found in Indian culture, each loaded with life lessons and moral tales.
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28. Anni Dreams of Biryani by Namita Moolani Mehra
Anni is in search of the secret ingredient in her favorite biryani recipe. This lovely book is a celebration of foods from South Asia and the perfect book for children that love delicious Indian cuisine.
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29. The Elephant's Friend and Other Tales from Ancient India by Marcia Williams
The Hitopadesha, the Jatakas, and the Panchatantra all served as inspiration for this lovely book. This Indian book is a collection of 8 intriguing stories all about animals from India.
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30. 10 Gulab Jamuns: Counting With an Indian Sweet Treat by Sandhya Acharya
Idu and Abu can only think of one thing, the Gulab Jamuns their mother has made! This adorable Indian book is filled with STEM challenges, activities, and even a recipe as a celebration of food from India. Will the boys be able to snatch a Gulab Jamuns before their mother realizes?
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31. The Little Book of Hindu Deities by Sanjay Patel
Indian children love hearing the beautiful stories of how Hindu gods and goddesses came to be. How did Ganesha get his elephant head and why is Kali known as "the black one"? It is an essential Indian book for all kids learning about their culture and religion.
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32. Archie Celebrates Diwali by Mitali Banerjee Ruths
Archi loves the festival of lights and is very excited to share it with her friends from school. But a thunderstorm potentially ruins her plans! It is the perfect book for kids who love Diwali and can't wait to celebrate it this autumn.
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33. Diwali Story Book For Kids
The festival of lights is a spectacular event and a favorite of many Indian children. Share this story of culture, tradition, and festivity to show kids what Diwali is all about. The lively book depicts all elements of Indian life during this time including Diya, Aloo Bonda, Kandeele, and Rangoli.
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34. Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed
Bilal wants to share his favorite dish with his friends, but he starts to wonder whether or not they will like it the way he does. The lively book is a celebration of food, friendship, and teamwork as well as a story of culture and sharing your traditions.
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35. Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Masala by Meenal Patel
This touching Indian-American story follows Priya as she discovers the magic of India through stories from her grandparents. It is a story of culture and knowing where you come from and appreciate your heritage.
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36. Rapunzel by Chloe Perkins
This beautiful story is a reimagining of the classic children's tale, Rapunzel. This time around she is a beautiful Indian girl with thick black hair that she has to let down from her tower. It is the perfect book for kids who love fairytales as the vibrant illustrations breathe new life into a classic story.
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