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A curated collection of outstanding books in English and in Hindi, for children and young adults, by the Parag Initiative of Tata Trusts. This list, published annually, comprises noteworthy books of the year, with brief information on each title. It has been developed with careful screening and multiple reviews by experts in the field of children’s literature. The list aims to provide a comprehensive curated list of good quality children’s literature that librarians, teachers, parents and children can refer to and read.

This year, we called for submissions of original writing in the categories of picture books, young readers and young adults, across genres of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. We received entries from 23 Indian publishers, published between October 2020 and September 2021.

We hope this endeavor will enable a wider readership to some of the best Indian children’s books!

To browse through the Parag Honour List books, click here.

As per this year’s criteria, we received original writings in the category of picture books, young readers and young adults, in fiction, non-fiction and poetry, from 23 Indian publishers, published between October, 2020 to September, 2021.

We hope this list will enable a wider readership to some of the best Indian children’s books!

Anita Balasubramanian

Anita Balasubramanian

Anita has a doctorate in curriculum design focusing on pedagogy for social justice. She is the co-founder of “The Learning Network”, a network of alternative schools that worked closely together between 2003-2013. She has also volunteered with several not-for-profit organizations working in education to collate resources for children. As a parent to two girls who do not go to school, she is constantly on the lookout for good literature and resources for learning. She is also a yoga therapist and a life coach.

Anita has a doctorate in curriculum design focusing on pedagogy for social justice. She is the co-founder of “The Learning Network”, a network of alternative schools that worked closely together between 2003-2013. She has also volunteered with several not-for-profit organizations working in education to collate resources for children. As a parent to two girls who do not go to school, she is constantly on the lookout for good literature and resources for learning. She is also a yoga therapist and a life coach.

Jeeva Raghunath

Jeeva Raghunath

Jeeva Raghunath, storyteller/author. Pioneered the storytelling movement in Tamil Nadu, India. She has represented her country at various festivals around the globe. She has received the 'Best Entrepreneur Award’ for her contribution to storytelling and ‘Pride of Asia’ awarded by Surindra Rajabhat University, Surin, Thailand. Her company Kathaikalatta organises an international storytelling festival ‘Under the Aalamaram’ since 2014 and featured over 45 international storytellers. She has authored 12 storybooks for children and translated over 65 picture books from English to Tamil. She smells, tastes, feels, sees and hears stories!

Jeeva Raghunath, storyteller/author. Pioneered the storytelling movement in Tamil Nadu, India. She has represented her country at various festivals around the globe. She has received the 'Best Entrepreneur Award’ for her contribution to storytelling and ‘Pride of Asia’ awarded by Surindra Rajabhat University, Surin, Thailand. Her company Kathaikalatta organises an international storytelling festival ‘Under the Aalamaram’ since 2014 and featured over 45 international storytellers. She has authored 12 storybooks for children and translated over 65 picture books from English to Tamil. She smells, tastes, feels, sees and hears stories!

Manjiri Nimbkar

Manjiri Nimbkar

Manjiri Nimbkar is a medical doctor born in a book lovers’ and writers’ family. After 10 years of medical practice, she became a teacher. She began working at Kamala Nimbkar Balbhavan (KNB) of Pragat Shikshan Sanstha, Phaltan. She believes that development of children is crucial and runs along with the development of teachers. Manjiri loves animals (especially wild ones) and books. She writes and also illustrates, and firmly believes books to be change makers.

Manjiri Nimbkar is a medical doctor born in a book lovers’ and writers’ family. After 10 years of medical practice, she became a teacher. She began working at Kamala Nimbkar Balbhavan (KNB) of Pragat Shikshan Sanstha, Phaltan. She believes that development of children is crucial and runs along with the development of teachers. Manjiri loves animals (especially wild ones) and books. She writes and also illustrates, and firmly believes books to be change makers.

PHL Hindi Jury

प्राची कालरा

प्राची कालरा दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय में शिक्षा से सम्बंधित कोर्स पढ़ाती हैं। उनकी पी.एच.डी रिसर्चका विषय था कि बच्चे कहानियों से कैसे अर्थ बनाते हैं। उनकी रिसर्च ने यह रेखांकित किया किबच्चे जटिल कहानियाँ भी समझने की क़ाबलियत रखते हैं और एक सामूहिक अर्थ खोजने में मज़ालेते हैं। प्राची की रूचि लिटरेसी और बाल साहित्य में है। उनका सपना है एक लाइब्रेरी खोलना।

प्राची कालरा दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय में शिक्षा से सम्बंधित कोर्स पढ़ाती हैं। उनकी पी.एच.डी रिसर्चका विषय था कि बच्चे कहानियों से कैसे अर्थ बनाते हैं। उनकी रिसर्च ने यह रेखांकित किया किबच्चे जटिल कहानियाँ भी समझने की क़ाबलियत रखते हैं और एक सामूहिक अर्थ खोजने में मज़ालेते हैं। प्राची की रूचि लिटरेसी और बाल साहित्य में है। उनका सपना है एक लाइब्रेरी खोलना।

arun

अरुण कमल

अरुण कमल हिंदी के कवि एवं निबंधकार हैं। उनके छह कविता संग्रह, तीन चयन तथा साहित्यिकनिबंधों की पुस्तकें प्रकाशित हुई हैं। उन्होंने बच्चों के लिए दो किताबें लिखी हैं, जिनके नाम “हवामिठाई” और “एक चोर की चौदह रातें” हैं। अरुण कमल पटना विश्वविद्यालय में अंग्रेज़ी के प्राध्यापक रहे हैं। उन्हें कविता के लिए साहित्य अकादमी पुरस्कार (1998), भारतीय भाषा परिषद का समग्र कृतित्व सम्मान समेत अनेक पुरस्कार मिले हैं।

अरुण कमल हिंदी के कवि एवं निबंधकार हैं। उनके छह कविता संग्रह, तीन चयन तथा साहित्यिकनिबंधों की पुस्तकें प्रकाशित हुई हैं। उन्होंने बच्चों के लिए दो किताबें लिखी हैं, जिनके नाम “हवामिठाई” और “एक चोर की चौदह रातें” हैं। अरुण कमल पटना विश्वविद्यालय में अंग्रेज़ी के प्राध्यापक रहे हैं। उन्हें कविता के लिए साहित्य अकादमी पुरस्कार (1998), भारतीय भाषा परिषद का समग्र कृतित्व सम्मान समेत अनेक पुरस्कार मिले हैं।

gurbachan singh

गुरबचन सिंह

गुरबचन सिंह ने चार दशक तक सार्वजनिक स्कूली शिक्षा में काम किया है। इस दौरान वे राज्यसंसाधन केन्द्र, भोपाल के निदेशक रहे हैं। टीकमगढ़ के बाल साहित्य केन्द्र के संस्थापक सदस्य हैं। शैक्षिक “पलाश” और बच्चों की पत्रिका “गुल्लक” के सम्पादक रहे हैं। बाल साहित्य में विशेष रुचि है और इसे बच्चों और किशोरों की अच्छी शिक्षा में अनिवार्य अवयव के रूप में देखते हैं। फिलहाल अज़ीम प्रेमजी विश्वविद्यालय द्वारा प्रकाशित शैक्षिक पत्रिका “पाठशाला भीतर और बाहर” के कार्यकारी संपादक हैं।

गुरबचन सिंह ने चार दशक तक सार्वजनिक स्कूली शिक्षा में काम किया है। इस दौरान वे राज्यसंसाधन केन्द्र, भोपाल के निदेशक रहे हैं। टीकमगढ़ के बाल साहित्य केन्द्र के संस्थापक सदस्य हैं। शैक्षिक “पलाश” और बच्चों की पत्रिका “गुल्लक” के सम्पादक रहे हैं। बाल साहित्य में विशेष रुचि है और इसे बच्चों और किशोरों की अच्छी शिक्षा में अनिवार्य अवयव के रूप में देखते हैं। फिलहाल अज़ीम प्रेमजी विश्वविद्यालय द्वारा प्रकाशित शैक्षिक पत्रिका “पाठशाला भीतर और बाहर” के कार्यकारी संपादक हैं।

Parag Honour List Books 2023

Parag Honour List 2023 brings to you a curated collection of outstanding books in English and Hindi, for children, young readers and young adults.

An initiative of Tata Trusts, the Parag Honour List, published annually, comprises of noteworthy books of the year with brief information about each title. It has been created after careful screening and multiple reviews by experts in the children’s literature sector. The list aims to promote access to good quality children’s literature that librarians, teachers, parents and children can refer to and read.

As per this year’s criteria, we received original writing in the category of early readers, young readers and young adults, in fiction, non-fiction and poetry, from 33 Indian publishers, published between October 2021 and September 2022.

We hope this list will enable a wider readership to some of the best Indian children’s books!

Children’s Publishers and Bookstores

Here is a list of some bookstores and publishers who offer good books for children.

Children’s Publishers

A list of children’s publishers pan India who publish good books for children.

Children’s Bookstores

A list of some bookstores across Indian cities where you can find good quality Indian children’s literature.

Parag New Release

Parag supports publication of original stories and translations for children across the age group of 3-16 years. The main aim is to provide access to good quality story books for children in Indian languages. A wide range and variety of books have been released through various publishers and we are happy to share an array of new stories for different age groups with you.

 

Supporting Children’s Publishing

A wide variety of books have been published over the last 12 years in multiple Indian languages and across age groups.

Parag Catalogue

The Parag catalogue provides a sneak peak into the books supported since 2005, their central themes and ideas. The books are categorized according to age groups and genres. However, the categorization is suggestive and their most effective usage lies in the hands of readers/story tellers/educators/parents. Books marked for ages 6+ can be read aloud to young children, while Teachers’ Resource books can be read by teens. Books are listed under one category to avoid duplication. This annotated catalogue lists the books published by the Trusts’ partners, under picture books, poems, young readers, activity Books and teachers’ resource books.

Parag Honour List

For more than a decade Parag has been working to catalyse the children’s literature sector in India. Parag has supported the publication of 700+ titles in 9 Indian languages reaching more than 40 million readers.

 

Case Studies
Children’s Literature for ALL

Opening up the world of books to children with disabilities is an important pathway to making literature and society more inclusive