Miss gave us some homework: collect an egg, keep it warm, keep it safe and watch it hatch. How could it turn out so badly? About the Hook Book Series In a world where children’s books often feel cut from the same cloth, Hook Books stand out as a vibrant blend of imagination, humour, and heart. Crafted as a bridge between picture books and early chapter books, this series delivers stories that spark joy and wonder, while remaining rooted in age-appropriate learning. Hook Books keep the fun going with: Short, digestible bits of text (perfect for budding readers) Bright colour illustrations that pull kids into the story Themes that speak to the everyday lives of children—plus a sprinkle of whimsy! From fantasy tales to those that touch on more advanced ideas, Hook Books ensure that young readers are always in for a treat, no matter their reading level. Even better, these books take children on journeys through different parts of India, giving them a taste of the rich diversity of our world through local flavours, landscapes, and cultures. Whether the story takes place in bustling cities or quiet villages, Hook Books make every setting feel like home.

Before Mahasweta Devi became a writer and human rights activist, she was a girl with a love for words.

Janaki dreams of a secret world, far from the rigid rules of her town. This is the story of how nature shows her the way to it. A delightfully illustrated short biography that will inspire young readers.

Before Nek Chand built his iconic garden, he was a boy with a dream—of home.

Narayan loved words, while Doodu loved to draw. This is the story of how two brothers created the immortal town of Malgudi. A delightfully illustrated short biography that will inspire young readers.

Quick as a bird, fast as a train-there she goes! This is the story of P.T. Usha, before she became a legend in Indian sports.

Before Satyajit Ray became a world-famous film maker, he was a little boy who saw many things in the shadows. A delightfully illustrated short biography that will inspire young readers.

Before Salim Ali was a world-famous ornithologist, he was a boy curious about the mysteries around him. Especially the mysteries of birds.

Before Bachendri Pal became the first Indian woman to climb Mt Everest, she was a little girl with dreams as big as the sky.

Before Teejan Bai became a world-renowned singer, she was a little girl who had to fight for her freedom to sing. A delightfully illustrated short biography that will inspire young readers.

Before Shankuntala Devi was world-renowned as the human computer, she was a girl to whom numbers were her friends and playmates.

The very first words Zakir hears from his famous father, Allarakha, are bols — rhythms played out on tablas! From then on, bols sing and dance in his head, on Amma’s cheeks, on the pots and pans in the kitchen… Sandhya Rao follows these beats, stringing together little vignettes from his life. From a childhood around music to the highs of a performer who took the tabla to the world, this joyous story introduces children to a musical genius, whose busy fingers and flying curls make him the inimitable Zakir Hussain. Illustrator Priya Kuriyan’s fingers add their own magic.

Zai’s uncle is the famous 'birdman of India' Salim Ali, everyone in her family is a birding expert, and she herself can’t so much as identify the pipit sitting right under her nose. In this delightful portrait of childhood, Zai Whitaker recounts her early birding woes and how she winged it. Prabha Mallya’s pictures pick up the humour, and are an arresting collage of a bird-filled Bombay of the past, and a troubled little girl with a ‘superstar’ uncle!

Duster the dog is more of a cat. He loves the naps, the flaps, and the fish. And he doesn't like to announce arrivals, to play fetch, and to dig for bones. Especially, certainly, not the bones. His human craves dog love. Will the two ever be right for each other? Richa Jha narrates with brevity and humour a tiny, universal tale of love and companionship (and expectations) that is sure to strike a chord with the readers. Neeti Banerji's endearing frames are chocked full of details with Easter eggs and parallel threads to add to the re-readability of the story. The minimal palette and simple character shapes - Duster is essentially an oblong with legs - work with the highly detailed line-art to engage and not overwhelm.

When Fakruddin worries, he gets frantic. And Frantic Fakru is now worried because his fridge is spoilt, the day is hot, and he is desperate for cold water. What does he do? A light-hearted story with a smart idea and cheerful watercolour illustrations which bring alive the ambience of Fakru's neighbourhood in Bhopal.

What does it take for a person to alter the course of a nation? Spotlighting 25 such change-making individuals, the book looks at the times in which they lived, the challenges they dealt with, and the paths they forged. Quick introductions position personalities as game changers, chatty stories sketch their profiles, crisp timelines fill in the gaps, insightful quotations balance perspectives, and creative collages present visual montages. What emerges is the powerful journey of a country at the threshold of change, committed to charting its own course, helmed by its richest resource – its people. Age 10+

The devas are at the gates of the asura kingdom, raring to wage war. But the asuras turn up unarmed and jolly! Is their king, Hasyasura, up to something? Does he have a secret weapon? Indra, king of the gods, is suspicious. Narada sends Hasya sura, the teen deva, as spy from the sky to uncover the plans of his almost-namesake down under. There, in the hurly-burly of Patala politics he meets more than his match in Princess Shantaswaroopa who has ideas of her own to resolve the eternal enmity between suras and asuras! A laugh out loud story that makes a pitch for sporting wars.

Rhea and Dia are inseparable soulmates. But when Isha moves in next door, their friendship goes through trying times. Will Rhea, Dia and Isha become three best pals? And who is that boy always lurking in the background? Richa Jha weaves a clever, believable story of the typical joys, thrills, conflicts, jealousies, patch ups and all the bitter sweet stuff friendships are made of. Alicia Souza's feisty and utterly playful artwork and hand-etched letterings add a charming quirkiness to this delightful story.

Aadya looks just like her mother (Aai) same little nose, same delicate ears, same big eyes and identical thick, long hair. But one day, Aai goes away to a big hospital with a promise to return before she learns her next Math lesson. The long-awaited return shocks Aadya because her mother now looks entirely unlike her. She wonders if Aai will ever greet her with her usual cheery, "Hello! Mini-me." Or will She have to take matters into her own hands to hear that again? With lyrical prose and a tender touch, Aai and I is an empowering story about the bond between a mother and a daughter and of the little one finding her own identity as she no longer 'looks' the same as her mother. Mamta Nainy captures Elan Aadya's innocence, impatience, and dilemma, and Sanket Pethkar's vibrant, gorgeous artwork brings to life the nuanced see-saw of the child's emotions in this Maharashtrian household.

“Let’s play house-house!” decide Sunehri and her friends. So they put together some old plates and bowls, empty packets of chips, plastic bottles, a broken helmet… things they’ve collected going about their work in the city on whose streets they live. The game loved by children everywhere takes on a poignant layer when played by those who have never known a home¬. Pictures full of exuberance and detail bring out their spontaneous joy in a make-believe world, which trips side by side with the harsh reality of their lives.