Children's books in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Malayalam and Punjabi

The best children’s books in Indian languages include Akbar and Birbal (Illustrated) (Hindi), Panchatantra - Wisdom Tales (Illustrated) (Hindi) and भारतीय बाल कहानियाँ भाग-4 (Bharatiya Bal Kahaniyan Bhag-4). Every book here is in the language named on it, with classics like Premchand and Sukumar Ray alongside folk tales and picture books.

37 books, checked for age-appropriate content. Updated 24 September 2026.

Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken.

Best Hindi books for kids

7 books in Hindi, youngest first.

Ages 5–9
Hindi
Akbar and Birbal (Illustrated) (Hindi)
by Maple Press
Hindi illustrated tales of Akbar and Birbal's famous riddles, judgments and humorous twists.
Know more Get book
Ages 5–9
Hindi
Panchatantra - Wisdom Tales (Illustrated) (Hindi)
by Vishnu Sharma; illustrated retelling
An illustrated Hindi-language gateway to the Panchatantra's animal stories, clever plots and everyday morals.
Know more Get book
Ages 6–13
Hindi
भारतीय बाल कहानियाँ भाग-4 (Bharatiya Bal Kahaniyan Bhag-4)
by Sahitya Akademi
A child-friendly hindi-language stories, poems and cultural reading for children title for Hindi-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 8–13
Hindi
ईदगाह (Idgah)
by Munshi Premchand
A child-friendly hindi-language stories, poems and cultural reading for children title for Hindi-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 8–13
Hindi
गिल्लू (Gillu)
by Mahadevi Verma
A child-friendly hindi-language stories, poems and cultural reading for children title for Hindi-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 8–13
Hindi
दो बैलों की कथा (Do Bailon Ki Katha)
by Munshi Premchand
A child-friendly hindi-language stories, poems and cultural reading for children title for Hindi-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 10–14
Hindi
पंच परमेश्वर (Panch Parmeshwar)
by Munshi Premchand
A child-friendly hindi-language stories, poems and cultural reading for children title for Hindi-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book

Best Marathi books for kids

6 books in Marathi, youngest first.

Ages 5–10
Marathi
Aajichya Potaditalya Goshti (Marathi Edition)
by Sudha Murty; translated by Leena Sohoni
A child-friendly marathi-language children's stories, humour, poetry and adventure title for Marathi-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Marathi
Bokya Satbande: Part 1
by Dilip Prabhavalkar
A child-friendly marathi-language children's stories, humour, poetry and adventure title for Marathi-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Marathi
Bokya Satbande: Part 2
by Dilip Prabhavalkar
A child-friendly marathi-language children's stories, humour, poetry and adventure title for Marathi-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Marathi
Faster Fene: Book 1
by B. R. Bhagwat
A child-friendly marathi-language children's stories, humour, poetry and adventure title for Marathi-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Marathi
Faster Fene: Book 2
by B. R. Bhagwat
A child-friendly marathi-language children's stories, humour, poetry and adventure title for Marathi-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 10–14
Marathi
Shyamchi Aai
by Sane Guruji
A Marathi classic built from a son's childhood memories of his mother, sacrifice, dignity and moral courage.
Know more Get book

Best Bengali books for kids

9 books in Bengali, youngest first.

Ages 3–6
Bengali
সহজ পাঠ (Sahaj Path: First Part)
by Rabindranath Tagore
An iconic Bengali primer using poems, pictures and familiar words to make first reading feel playful and musical.
Know more Get book
Ages 6–10
Bengali
টুনটুনি আর রাজার কথা (Tuntuni and the King)
by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
A child-friendly bengali-language children's classics, nonsense, fantasy and detective adventures title for Bengali-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Bengali
আবোল তাবোল (Abol Tabol): The Nonsense World of Sukumar Ray
by Sukumar Ray
Inventive Bengali nonsense verse full of wordplay, impossible creatures and comic imagination.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Bengali
উপেন্দ্রকিশোর সমগ্র (Upendrakishore Samagra)
by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
A child-friendly bengali-language children's classics, nonsense, fantasy and detective adventures title for Bengali-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Bengali
উপেন্দ্রকিশোরের ছোটদের সেরা গল্প (Upendrakishore's Best Stories)
by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
A child-friendly bengali-language children's classics, nonsense, fantasy and detective adventures title for Bengali-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Bengali
গুপী গাইন বাঘা বাইন (Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne)
by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
A child-friendly bengali-language children's classics, nonsense, fantasy and detective adventures title for Bengali-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 8–13
Bengali
The Children's Ramayana
by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
A child-friendly bengali-language children's classics, nonsense, fantasy and detective adventures title for Bengali-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 8–14
Bengali
পাগলা দাশু (Pagla Dashu)
by Sukumar Ray
Comic Bengali stories about the irrepressible Dashu, whose wit and mischief turn everyday rules upside down.
Know more Get book
Ages 8–14
Bengali
হযবরল (Hajabarala)
by Sukumar Ray
A Bengali nonsense classic where logic slips, language twists and a dreamlike world keeps changing shape.
Know more Get book

Best Tamil books for kids

3 books in Tamil, youngest first.

Ages 5–9
Tamil
Moral Tales of Panchtantra in Tamil
by Priyanka Verma
Tamil moral tales inspired by the Panchatantra, using animals and clever reversals to make values memorable.
Know more Get book
Ages 5–9
Tamil
Panchatantra Story Books for Kids (Tamil Edition)
by Jude o' Justin
Short Tamil retellings of Panchatantra fables designed for young listeners and early independent readers.
Know more Get book
Ages 12–16
Tamil
பாரதியார் கவிதைகள் (Bharathiyar Kavidhaigal)
by Subramania Bharati
Selected Tamil poems by Bharati, including works that celebrate freedom, courage, nature and a more equal society.
Know more Get book

Best Telugu books for kids

6 books in Telugu, youngest first.

Ages 6–10
Telugu
Chandamama Kathalu
by Chandamama Telugu editors
A child-friendly telugu-language children's humour, folklore, classics and adventure title for Telugu-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Telugu
Bala Bharatam
by Telugu children's edition
A child-friendly telugu-language children's humour, folklore, classics and adventure title for Telugu-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Telugu
Bala Ramayanam
by Telugu children's edition
A child-friendly telugu-language children's humour, folklore, classics and adventure title for Telugu-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 7–14
Telugu
Tenali Ramakrishna Kathalu (Telugu)
by Telugu children's edition
A child-friendly telugu-language children's humour, folklore, classics and adventure title for Telugu-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book
Ages 8–12
Telugu
బడుగు (Budugu)
by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana
A beloved Telugu comic portrait of childhood, told in a child's own voice with sharp observation and mischief.
Know more Get book
Ages 12–17
Telugu
Koti Kommachi
by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana
A child-friendly telugu-language children's humour, folklore, classics and adventure title for Telugu-language or bilingual family reading.
Know more Get book

Best Gujarati books for kids

2 books in Gujarati, youngest first.

Ages 5–9
Gujarati
Famous Tales of Panchtantra in Gujarati
by Priyanka Verma
Gujarati retellings of classic Panchatantra animal fables with short plots and clear takeaways for younger readers.
Know more Get book
Ages 6–10
Gujarati
Folk Tales of Gujarat
by R. M. Bhatt
A collection of Gujarati folk narratives that introduces local landscapes, humor and traditional storytelling patterns.
Know more Get book

Best Malayalam books for kids

1 book in Malayalam, youngest first.

Ages 12–16
Malayalam
Aithihyamaala: The Great Legends of Kerala
by Kottarathil Sankunni; retold edition
A landmark Malayalam treasury of legends, sacred places and larger-than-life characters from Kerala's cultural memory.
Know more Get book

Best Punjabi books for kids

2 books in Punjabi, youngest first.

Ages 3–8
Punjabi
Fascinating Folktales of Punjab (Punjabi-English Bilingual)
by Gurmeet Kaur
Bilingual board-book folktales that introduce Punjabi words, family storytelling and regional characters.
Know more Get book
Ages 3–8
Punjabi
I Love to Tell the Truth (Punjabi Book for Kids - Gurmukhi)
by Shelley Admont
A simple Punjabi/Gurmukhi bilingual read-aloud that supports language exposure and a conversation about honesty.
Know more Get book

Best Odia books for kids

1 book in Odia, youngest first.

Ages 11–16
Odia
Maguni's Bullock Cart and Other Classic Odia Stories
by Manoj Das
Classic Odia stories that bring village life, humor, compassion and moral complexity into a readable collection.
Know more Get book

Not sure which one to pick?

Answer a few questions about your child: their age, what they are into, how they feel about reading and anything to avoid. Bookstaken's free quiz picks seven books matched to them from 300+ children's books.

More book lists for kids

A good book is the start. A mentor makes it stick.

In a free 1:1 session, a trained Bookstaken mentor reads with your child, asks what they think and helps the reading habit last.

Questions parents ask

Q: What are the best Hindi books for kids?

Good Hindi books for children include Akbar and Birbal (Illustrated) (Hindi) (Maple Press, ages 5–9), Panchatantra - Wisdom Tales (Illustrated) (Hindi) (Vishnu Sharma; illustrated retelling, ages 5–9) and भारतीय बाल कहानियाँ भाग-4 (Bharatiya Bal Kahaniyan Bhag-4) (Sahitya Akademi, ages 6–13). Bookstaken has 7 children's books in Hindi, each checked for age-appropriate content.

Q: What are the best Marathi books for kids?

Good Marathi books for children include Aajichya Potaditalya Goshti (Marathi Edition) (Sudha Murty; translated by Leena Sohoni, ages 5–10), Bokya Satbande: Part 1 (Dilip Prabhavalkar, ages 7–14) and Bokya Satbande: Part 2 (Dilip Prabhavalkar, ages 7–14). Bookstaken has 6 children's books in Marathi, each checked for age-appropriate content.

Q: What are the best Bengali books for kids?

Good Bengali books for children include সহজ পাঠ (Sahaj Path: First Part) (Rabindranath Tagore, ages 3–6), টুনটুনি আর রাজার কথা (Tuntuni and the King) (Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, ages 6–10) and আবোল তাবোল (Abol Tabol): The Nonsense World of Sukumar Ray (Sukumar Ray, ages 7–14). Bookstaken has 9 children's books in Bengali, each checked for age-appropriate content.

Q: What are the best Tamil books for kids?

Good Tamil books for children include Moral Tales of Panchtantra in Tamil (Priyanka Verma, ages 5–9), Panchatantra Story Books for Kids (Tamil Edition) (Jude o' Justin, ages 5–9) and பாரதியார் கவிதைகள் (Bharathiyar Kavidhaigal) (Subramania Bharati, ages 12–16). Bookstaken has 3 children's books in Tamil, each checked for age-appropriate content.

Q: What are the best Telugu books for kids?

Good Telugu books for children include Chandamama Kathalu (Chandamama Telugu editors, ages 6–10), Bala Bharatam (Telugu children's edition, ages 7–14) and Bala Ramayanam (Telugu children's edition, ages 7–14). Bookstaken has 6 children's books in Telugu, each checked for age-appropriate content.

Q: What are the best Gujarati books for kids?

Good Gujarati books for children include Famous Tales of Panchtantra in Gujarati (Priyanka Verma, ages 5–9) and Folk Tales of Gujarat (R. M. Bhatt, ages 6–10). Bookstaken has 2 children's books in Gujarati, each checked for age-appropriate content.

Q: What are the best Punjabi books for kids?

Good Punjabi books for children include Fascinating Folktales of Punjab (Punjabi-English Bilingual) (Gurmeet Kaur, ages 3–8) and I Love to Tell the Truth (Punjabi Book for Kids - Gurmukhi) (Shelley Admont, ages 3–8). Bookstaken has 2 children's books in Punjabi, each checked for age-appropriate content.

Q: Should my child read in our home language as well as English?

Yes, if you can. Stories in the language your family speaks keep children close to grandparents and culture, and reading in two languages does not hold back their English. Start with books you can read aloud together.

Q: Which Hindi books are good for kids?

Premchand's short stories, such as Idgah and Do Bailon Ki Katha, suit children from about 8, and illustrated Panchatantra and Akbar-Birbal collections work for younger readers. Each book on this page shows the ages it suits.

Q: How are the books on this list chosen?

Every book comes from Bookstaken's catalogue of 300+ children's books, where each title is rated for violence, fear, romance and language. A book only appears here if it fits the ages on this page and stays within the content limits for the youngest of them. Popular, well-reviewed books and series come first, and the list mixes Indian authors with international favourites.

Q: Where can I buy these books in India?

Each book has a Get book button that opens it on Amazon India. Most are also in bookshops, on Flipkart and in school and public libraries. Outside India, search the same title on your local Amazon or bookshop site.

Q: Can I get a list made for my own child?

Yes. Bookstaken's free book recommendation quiz asks about your child's age, interests, reading level and anything to avoid, then picks seven books matched to them. It takes about two minutes.

Back