5 New Books to Buy For Your Toddler

Hello parents, if you have clicked on this post then you must love reading to your little one’s! A couple of weeks ago, I posted mini-reviews of books for 7-12 year olds. Today, I bring you mini-reviews of the latest in Indian publishing for toddlers and babies. Read on to know which ones you should pick:

1. OM THE GNOME & THE CHANTING COMB by TRISHLA JAIN, Illustrated by TAHIRAH POWELL:

Trishla Jain writes books for toddlers to introduce them to the different tenets of spirituality and religion. This book has a nice plot introducing the concept of meditation to little ones. The character of Om the Gnome is particularly endearing, and the book teaches children the merits of mindfulness and meditation. The illustrations by Tahira Powell are beautiful.

However, I feel the subject would appeal more to children ages 6 and up, while the book is written for 2-3 year olds. Less illustrations and more text might have been a better route to take. Toddlers are interested in learning about spirituality but at that tender age, they learn it through observation. A heavy subject in a book, may not catch their fancy.

Rating: 4/5

Buy the book on Amazon here

2. SUNRISE, MOONRISE by TRISHLA JAIN, Illustrated by KIRSTIN EGGERS:

This book talks about prayer and the existence of multiple religions in the world. It is a good subject for older children, yet it isn’t something that would appeal to or catch the attention of toddlers, even though it is written for them. The illustrations by Kirsten Eggers are lovely.

It is written with a rhyme scheme but most of the rhymes seem forced. Compared to other children’s literature on the market, it falls short on its writing. However, for the uniqueness of its subject, I give it,

Rating: 3/5

Buy the book on Amazon here

3. ONE LONELY TIGER by BENITA SEN, Illustrated by SEKHAR MUKHERJEE:

The story is about the last tiger left on Earth and how he struggles in a world where he is the only one of his kind. The subject is timely indeed. Tigers and many other animals face imminent extinction. With rapid population growth and irresponsible use of resources, we are destroying our planet.

This book is a great way to introduce the concept of conservation to little one’s aged 2-5. The illustrations are unique in their style, gritty and evocative of the mood of the book.

The writing is slightly jarring in a couple of places, with a rather obvious use of rhymes. The story also tends to stretch longer than it needs to and children might lose interest halfway.

However, since I have personally not come across other children’s books on this theme, I recommend picking it up. Skip over the story if you must, but explain its essence with the help of the creative images.

Rating: 3.5/5

Buy the book on Amazon here

4. IN MY HEART by NANDANA DEV SEN, Illustrated by RUCHI MHASANE:

Nandana Dev Sen’s book should be essential reading for homes with adopted children. It is a heart-warming way to tell them about their origins. The book is also great for introducing the concept of adoption to young children, who will invariably come across friends/ neighbours/ playmates who have been adopted.

The book may not appeal to young ones merely for reading pleasure. However, I must say that I loved the book for its writing and sensitive handling of a difficult subject, and recommend it to everyone. Read the full review here.

Rating- 4.5/5

Buy the book on Amazon here

5. THE JUNGLE RADIO: BIRD SONGS OF INDIA by DEVANGANA DASH:

Children who are fond of birds and animals will love this picture book centred around nature. This one has gorgeous visuals and funny sounds that the reader can enact, to the delight of the child!

Slightly older children will enjoy this book as they can read along and make sounds on their own, and the younger ones would love to see the pictures and have it read to them. The information at the end, ensures they learn something about Indian birds and birding as well. I highly recommend this book to everyone who has a young child. Read the full review here.

Rating: 4.5/5

Buy the book on Amazon here

So that’s my round-up of the latest releases on the Indian book market. What have you read to your toddlers recently? Tell me in the comments below!

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***Copyright in content and pictures belongs to nooranandchawla and cannot be republished or repurposed without permission from the author. As I am a copyright lawyer by profession, infringement of any kind will invite strict legal action.