A rainbow is really just white light bent through a prism, split into colours we can finally see and name. Children’s books do something similar. They take feelings too big for a child to name alone and bend them into stories small enough to hold. The Children’s Book Trust titles reviewed below do exactly that, one emotion at a time.
This sweet story explains why rainbows are called ‘Indradhanush’ in Hindi.
The book has won a prize in the category Read-Aloud Books/Picture Books in the Competition for Writers of Children’s Books organized by the Children’s Book Trust. A warm, simple tale, best suited for children aged 5 to 9. The Hindi translation by Kusumlata Singh does the job well and reads smoothly overall, though a few of the words chosen may be a stretch for younger readers.
It’s Okay to Cry is a heartwarming story about a boy named Pranav who learns that crying is nothing to be ashamed of. Each time something upsets him, such as a lost kite, a broken cycle, a quarrel with a friend, or a nightmare, a family member assures him and says, ‘It’s okay to cry, Pranav!’ But each time, Aji with a new kite, a fixed cycle, a fun game, a bedtime story, helps him hold back his tears instead of shedding them. It is only when Aji leaves on a train that Pranav finally lets himself cry and realizes that his sadness over small everyday losses is just as real and valid. The story develops thoughtfully so that the young can follow easily and build an emotional lesson. It teaches that emotions don’t need to be fixed or brushed aside. They simply need to be felt. Ankur Mitra’s illustrations are lively and colourful, especially family scenes and Aji’s affectionate expressions. The graphic-novel-style art keeps the pace quick and engaging for young eyes. One small area to improve could be the middle part where every sadness is ‘fixed’ before Pranav can cry; it feels repetitive and could be trimmed slightly so the emotional lesson at the end lands even stronger. The book has won a prize in the category Social-Emotional Learning in the Competition for Writers of Children’s Books organized by the Children’s Book Trust. The Hindi translation by Kusumlata Singh does justice to the original text. It feels easy for young readers to follow and conveys the same idea and emotion as the original English version.
In One Magical Summer, Amit, a shy boy who stammers, feels neglected by his cousins and once-loyal brother, Bharat. But a mysterious woman in the Chhota Jungle takes them into her secret world of injured animals. There, Amit discovers his stammer disappears when he speaks the animals’ healing chant and cares for them. He slowly gains confidence and a sense of belonging that the human world never gave him. Amit chooses not to wish his stammer away since he realizes it shaped the empathy that leads him to become a veterinarian. The story touches on bullying, sibling bonds, and living with a speech disorder. The magical jungle works as a metaphor for acceptance that Amit can’t find among people. The illustrations are lively. They capture the boys’ mischief, the tenderness of the animal shelter scenes, and charming details in the jungle and animal characters. The story encourages readers to see kindness and difference with more compassion for others and themselves. A lovely read for ages 8-12. The book won a prize in the category Get Ready for a Magical Time in the Competition for Writers of Children’s Books organized by the Children’s Book Trust. The Hindi translation by Kusumlata Singh carries the stammering dialogue effectively, using the broken syllables to reflect the original’s rhythm. It uses simple, everyday Hindi that the young should find easy to follow.
May Fireflies Light Your Path is an engaging book traces the extraordinary life of Dr AJT Johnsingh, a pioneering Indian wildlife biologist. His love for nature began in childhood and grew into a lifetime of path-breaking work such as his landmark Ph.D. study on dholes and decades of walking through India’s forests, tracking tigers, elephants, and endangered species. This book won the Second prize in the Competition for Writers of Children’s Books in English organized by the Children’s Book Trust. It is packed with real anecdotes: hiding from a curious tigress, being chased by a cow elephant and photographing India’s first tiger picture in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. It also introduces young readers to concepts like bioluminescent fireflies and endangered mahseer fish in an engaging, accessible way. What makes this book valuable is the depth of information it provides. Children learn about ecology, animal behaviour and conservation challenges facing India today. Johnsingh’s own words and practical advice to young people add purpose to the narrative. The illustrations, particularly of the orange-finned, golden-finned and blue-finned mahseer, dholes and forest landscape, are detailed and appealing. Inspiring read for children aged 10 and above.