Children's books by Asian authors
36 hand-picked books from the Bookbear catalogue tagged “Asian author”, with Indian authors first. Each one has an age range, a short description, a heads-up on any sensitive topics and a link to buy in India.
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Dig Dig Dinosaur
by Prof. Anjali Goswami
Ages 4–5Indian author
Three children set off on an expedition to discover dinosaurs in a faraway land.
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One in a Million
by Smriti Halls
Ages 4–5Indian author
Debra the zebra can count — but what comes after ten? A heartwarming picture book to snuggle up with together.
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Reggie Rabbit: The Great Carrot Heist
by Swapna Reddy
Ages 5–9Indian author
Can amateur detective Reggie Rabbit solve the mystery of the missing carrots? A humorous heist in comic book style.
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You and Your Body
by Dr Punam Krishan
Ages 5–9Indian author
Learn how your heart, lungs, and brain work with this fun and informative lift-the-flap book.
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Anya's Quest
by Jasbinder Bilan
Ages 7–9Indian author
In the wintery Himalayas, Anya and Mahi are swept away by goddess Ganga on a journey to reconnect with their spirit animals.
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Pia's Pet Club: Puppy Problem
by Serena Patel
Ages 7–9Indian author
Pia has always dreamed of owning a pet. She trains her friend's new puppy and forms a local pet club to prove her credentials.
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The Bridge Home
by Padma Venkatraman
Ages 10–13Indian author
Two runaway sisters make a home with two homeless boys on an abandoned bridge in Chennai, India, in this moving story about family, disability, and resilience.
Heads-up: Death & grief, Abuse
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Rickshaw Girl
Ages 7–10Indian author
A talented young artist in rural Bangladesh disguises herself as a boy to help support her family, discovering new possibilities along the way.
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Junior Kumbhakarna
Ages 4–8Indian author
Every night Kukku asks his father for the story of Kumbhakarna, the giant who sleeps for six months at a stretch, and every night he dozes off at the same moment the giant does. In his dream, everyone tries everything to wake the giant up. A wildly funny retelling of an episode from the Ramayana, illustrated by Shreya Sen.
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Bookasura: The Adventures of Bala and the Book-Eating Monster
Ages 6–9Indian author
While staying with his grandparents, Bala meets Bookasura, a many-headed monster who eats books. Bala keeps him at bay with a steady supply of stories, but what happens when the books run out? A funny celebration of reading and imagination, illustrated by Priya Kuriyan. Winner of the Comic Con India award for best children's publication.
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Koobandhee: The Adventures of Bala and the Book-Barfing Monster
Ages 7–10Indian author
Bala's books are under threat: from a book-chewing baby sister, a strict school librarian, and Koobandhee, a one-eyed monster who barfs up books and blames Bala for her upset stomach. The second Bookasura adventure, full of word play and bookish jokes.
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Petu Pumpkin: Tiffin Thief
Ages 6–9Indian author
Petu Pumpkin is always hungry, and when he starts emptying his friends' tiffin boxes they form a secret society to save their lunches. Magic potions flop and super glue goes wrong in this laugh-out-loud school story. The first Petu Pumpkin book and a winner of the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award. Duckbill's hOle Books series.
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Petu Pumpkin: Tooth Troubles
Ages 6–9Indian author
The Gap Club has challenged the Fourth Standard to a football match, but they can't practise without a ball, and the ball depends on Petu's wobbly tooth falling out in time. A funny chapter book about friendship, teamwork and losing your first teeth. hOle Books series.
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Petu Pumpkin: Cheater Peter
Ages 6–9Indian author
When Petu starts cheating, his friends are sure he is headed for a life of crime. They try hypnosis, a home-baked truth serum and a DIY lie detector to set him straight. A funny story about honesty and friendship. hOle Books series.
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Petu Pumpkin: Freedom Fighter
Ages 9–12Indian author
When games periods are cancelled and their playground is threatened by land grabbers, Petu and his friends take inspiration from India's freedom fighters and protest. Along the way they face misleading media, credit-stealing politicians and scary security guards. A funny, timely story about standing up for what's fair, illustrated by Shilpa Ranade.
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I Want a Pet
Ages 5–7Indian author
Jasbir has always wanted a pet, not a sibling. Then one day a buffalo walks into his life and refuses to leave. A funny, warm Hook Book that bridges picture books and early chapter books, illustrated by Reshu Singh.
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Ramanujan: From Zero to Infinity
Ages 10–13Indian author
Young Srinivasa Ramanujan only wants to do maths at school in Kumbakonam, but this year there's no maths teacher. Instead, a string of odd substitutes has the boys lifting iron ingots, measuring milk and frying fish, and Ramanujan's team is drawn into a maths challenge he simply has to win. A funny story about the great mathematician as a boy, with puzzles to solve. Great Minds at Work series.
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Raman and Chandrasekhar: Lighting Up the Stars
Ages 10–13Indian author
Young Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar hates school, and his holidays are ruined when his uncle, the famous scientist C.V. Raman, comes to stay. Raman Chithappa pulls the eight children of the house into a string of physics experiments that disrupt everything. A funny introduction to two Nobel Prize-winning Indian scientists. Great Minds at Work series.
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Drawn Together
by Minh Lê
Ages 4–8
A boy and his Thai-speaking grandfather can't understand each other's words, until they discover they both love to draw.
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Hush! A Thai Lullaby
by Minfong Ho
Ages 1–4
A mother asks each noisy animal to hush so her baby can sleep, while the baby stays wide awake. A Caldecott Honor lullaby set in rural Thailand.
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The Girl at the Front of the Class
by Onjali Q Raúf
Ages 4–7
A boy discovers his new classmate has fled her home. Celebrates being welcoming and kind toward newcomers.
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We Are Definitely Human
by X. Fang
Ages 4–5
An alien family crashes into Mr and Mrs Li's house and insists they are human. Wonderfully absurd.
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One Smart Cookie
by Mika Song
Ages 5–9
How can the squirrels get an endless supply of cookies? They have a plan! A funny graphic novel for newly confident readers.
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Guardians of the New Moon
by Eric Huang
Ages 7–9
The ruler of heaven challenges every animal to a great race for the Chinese zodiac. Join Ming the fox and Miaow the cat!
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The Name Jar
by Yangsook Choi
Ages 5–8
Unhei moves from Korea to America and worries her name is too hard to say. Her classmates create a jar of name suggestions — but she already has a perfect name. Warm and funny.
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Front Desk
by Kelly Yang
Ages 10–12
Ten-year-old Mia Tang manages a motel front desk while her Chinese immigrant parents work and she secretly helps hide undocumented guests. Inspiring, funny, and deeply felt.
Heads-up: Racism & discrimination, Violence
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Inside Out & Back Again
by Thanhha Lai
Ages 10–12
A verse novel told through a year of haiku, following ten-year-old Hà as her family flees Vietnam as refugees and arrives in Alabama. Raw and luminous. Newbery Honor.
Heads-up: War & battle violence, Death & grief, Racism & discrimination
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Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China
by Ed Young
Ages 5–8
Three sisters left alone outwit the wolf who pretends to be their grandmother. A Caldecott Medal-winning retelling of a Chinese folk tale, atmospheric and beautiful.
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Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin
by Chieri Uegaki
Ages 4–7📱 eBook only in India
Hana's grandfather played violin in Japan; now she wants to honour him by performing at the school talent show — even though she has only just begun.
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The Korean Cinderella
by Shirley Climo
Ages 5–8
Pear Blossom is mistreated by her stepmother until magical creatures help her win the favour of the magistrate. A beautifully illustrated Korean folk tale retelling.
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Bee-Bim Bop!
Ages 3–6
A child helps her mother shop, chop, and cook a traditional Korean meal — all in bouncy, irresistible rhyming verse. A joyful celebration of Korean food and family.
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Eyes That Kiss in the Corners
by Joanna Ho
Ages 4–8
A young girl notices her eyes look different from her friends' — until she recognizes the same eyes in her mother, grandmother and little sister, and learns to see them as beautiful. A lyrical celebration of Asian beauty and heritage.
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One
by Kathryn Otoshi
Ages 4–8
Blue is a quiet color, and Red doesn't like it. When the other colors join in the bullying, it takes One to stand up and count everyone in. A bold, simple story about standing up for others.
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Our Lake
by Angie Kang
Ages 4–8
Two brothers take their first trip back to the lake without their father. A tender, quiet story about love, loss and the bond between siblings.
Heads-up: Death & grief
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Dancing Dumplings for My One and Only
by Eva Wong Nava (illus. Natelle Quek)
Ages 4–8
A girl loves making dumplings with her grandma. When Grandma falls ill, she pours her love, memories and worry into the dumplings Grandma taught her to make.
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Every Peach Is a Story
by David Mas Masumoto & Nikiko Masumoto (illus. Lauren Tamaki)
Ages 4–8✈️ Import only (pricey)
On her Japanese American family's peach farm, Midori asks if the peaches are ripe. Her grandfather says a ripe peach tastes like a story, and shares the family history behind every fruit.
