India

"Before the world began, there was only a white sea of milk. Floating on the sea of milk was a single lotus flower." Fabulous Hindu cosmic stories, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, gods of light and darkness, beloved Ganesh, demon kings, divine princesses, and great floods. (Illustrated chapter book)

The Festival of Lights, Diwali, remembers Rama's victory over Ravana. In this retelling of the Ramayana, Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, and his wife Sita are exiled to the forest. When Sita is kidnapped by the demon Ravana, Rama calls upon the monkey king, Hanuman, to rescue Sita. (Chapter book)

For books about how the festival is celebrated with fireworks, offerings, special oil lamps and foods: Amma, Tell Me About Diwali!, Diwali and Celebrate Diwali

Anana, a tea shop attendant, is entrusted with a magic conch. Accompanied by a sweeper girl, Nishi, they journey from Kolkata (Calcutta) to a hidden valley high in the Himalayas, hunted by the evil Surabhanu. A story of magic and myth is intertwined with illuminating descriptions of present-day India. (Chapter book)

The adventure continues in The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming.

Two magic tree house adventures, set in India. Jack and Annie are whirled back in time to Moguls, where they meet Shah Jahan and search for an emerald shaped like a rose. In the second adventure, the kids swing in the trees with the monkeys, ride on the back of an elephant, and help an injured tiger in the jungle. (Easy reader)

Wonderful overview of the Taj Mahal – life in Mogul India, love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, how the Taj Mahal was built, details of exquisite inlay work and calligraphic designs in the tomb. Two page spread of the complex and rich historical illustrations. (Chapter book)

Also excellent chapter book: Where Is the Taj Mahal?

Illustrated biography of Mohandas Gandhi, the great nationalist and spiritual leader of India, who championed independence from the British, aided the poor, and unified the nation. (Illustrated chapter book)

True story of Manjhi, who lives in a poor village on the other side of a mountain, without access to doctors, schools, markets. But Manjhi has an idea – to build a road through the mountain, with only a hammer and chisel. And he did it, though it took 22 years! (Picture book)

In a Bengal tiger reserve on the Sunderban islands, a tiger cub has escaped, and a wealthy poacher seeks to capture it. Young Neel and his sister are determined to find the cub first – they know the island better than anyone. Where would a tiger cub hide? (Chapter book)

Wacky, funny adventures of detective Captain Coconut. After an urgent phone call, he hops on his scooter, and goes to the home of Mrs. Y. Yesterday she bought bananas, and four are missing – it's a slippery trail to follow. An original story by Indian poet Anushka Ravishankar, marvelous collages! (Graphic novel)

A grandfather tells his grandchildren stories about India, how the sun uncurls like a fiery tiger, the monsoon rain makes mirrors on the ground, snow atop the Himalayas is a giant ice cream, and the shape of India is an elephant's ear. This is a lovely story to read out loud. (Picture book)

Kids can read for themselves about India, home to more than a billion people with many different languages. Spend the day with Nisha, meet her family, go to school, learn about the history of India, British colonialism and independence, play cricket and eat typical Indian snacks and food. (Easy reader)

Colorful collages and fun facts about the people and places of India today, from art, sports (cricket), holidays (Diwali), Himalayas and the Indus Valley, dance (Odissi), clothes (saris), yoga, to zebu (humped cattle). (Picture book)

The Ramayana story appears everywhere you look in India – in dance, sculpture and painting. It's an epic filled with divine avatars, adventures of Rama and Sita, the magical monkey Hanuman, plus hordes of demons. This contemporary retelling, fabulously illustrated, is timeless. (Illustrated chapter book)