Top 10 Publishers for Children’s Picture Books in India - AdiDev Press (2024)

Top 10 Publishers for Children’s Picture Books in India - AdiDev Press (1)

The quality of books published in India is beginning to rival internationally produced ones; not only in terms of form but content as well. And, while being educational, such books stimulate and ignite the imagination. This is owing to the fact that more recently, a niche crop of parents have emerged, who are avid readers themselves. Increasingly, parents, with disposable incomes, primarily in urban centers, view reading as having less to do with the school’s curriculum and more to do with a child’s cognitive development. Apart from this, you will also notice that the paper and print quality is improving to give the books a premium feel. The font and illustrations and pictures are getting more vividly hued and aesthetically pleasing. The language employed is pedagogically sound and less didactic. It’s descriptive without being intellectually undemanding. More importantly, while being educational such books stimulate and ignite the imagination, especially for little children who aren’t reading independently just yet. For instance, in a bid to produce books that are engaging and more culturally rooted, a clutch of authors, illustrators and publishers are drawing on our collective Indian-ness.

They do this by crafting characters with names and physical features set in a milieu that is relatable. The creatives feature and showcase indigenous folk art styles. Likewise, the stories incorporate regionalisms despite being narrated mainly in the English language. All this lends the artwork and stories a distinctly Indian flavour.

In a bid to showcase such trail blazers in the industry, we have compiled a list of top publication houses that are working with homegrown authors and illustrators to create beautiful picture books to enrich your child’s mind. From values to fantasy, you will find enough options to choose from:

1. Tulika Publishers

Tulika’s imaginatively created books for children pioneered a significant wave in Indian publishing in 1996. An independent publishing house, they cover a range of genres but focuses on multilingual picture books for children – in English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati and Bengali – to make more books accessible to children. They offer a range of experiences that are inclusive and representative of different childhoods, social milieus, cultures, and contexts. The visual language too is diverse, with the traditional alongside the contemporary.

2. Tara Books

Tara Books is an independent publishing house started in 1994 by Gita Wolf. Over the years, she was joined by other creative friends who have helped Tara grow organically and in many directions. They showcase their extraordinary creativity through their handmade books and the genre of visual arts.

3. Karadi tales

Karadi Tales is an independent children’s publishing house based in Chennai, India, focusing primarily on picture books and audiobooks. It was started in 1996 with the intent to create a space for Indian culture in the world of children’s publishing, by a group of writers, educators, and musicians. Their inclusivity of characters and stories has drawn people towards it, and people are delighted to have their books as a part of their kid’s childhood.

4. Katha

For nearly three decades, Kathakaar, the children’s publishing program at Katha, has been harnessing the power of stories to spark curiosity and compassion in children across the world. Using engaging visuals and imaginative narrations, Katha’s children’s books offer ways of exploring the similarities and differences existing in our world and lead young minds to think, ask, discuss and debate the issues that touch their lives. Every Katha book is designed to open children’s hearts and minds, and to encourage little people of our world to make big differences! Their books have a unique way of empathizing, which connects the readers to the content.

5. Adidev Press

AdiDev Press is born out of a passion for children’s picture books and a deep love for India. This young publishing house creates beautiful books that introduce children to different aspects of Indian culture, leveraging story-telling, beautiful visual elements, and simple content. They bring the rich heritage of India into the lives of our children in a meaningful manner. The books have stunning illustrations, simple text and are ideal for children from ages 0 to 8 years. Most definitely a publisher to look out for. They have an impressive lineup set for release in September 2021. Followed by several interesting titles later this year.

6. T4tales

T4Tales offers Indian parents living across the world, books that are simple and enjoyable to read to their children in Indian languages. They publish books written in Indian languages and English for 0-6-year-olds. They also helped introduce Indian languages, such as Hindi, Punjabi, and Kannada, to children in their early years, through books.

7. Mango and Marigold Press

Mango & Marigold Press is an award-winning independent publishing house that shares the sweet and savory stories of the South Asian experience. Their books are diverse and ensure the representation of children of colour.

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Top 10 Publishers for Children’s Picture Books in India - AdiDev Press (2024)

FAQs

Top 10 Publishers for Children’s Picture Books in India - AdiDev Press? ›

Penguin Random House India: One of the largest and most well-known publishing houses globally. HarperCollins India: A leading publisher with a wide range of titles across various genres.

Who is the best publisher for children's books? ›

We hope that you find these top 10 children's book publishing companies the best, each of them known for their credibility and hard work.
  • Ghost Book Authors.
  • Chelsea Publishers.
  • Penguin Random House.
  • HarperCollins Children's Book.
  • Hachette Children's Group:
  • Macmillan Children's Publishing Group:
  • Candlewick Press:
Nov 13, 2023

Which is the No 1 publisher in India? ›

Penguin Random House India: One of the largest and most well-known publishing houses globally. HarperCollins India: A leading publisher with a wide range of titles across various genres.

How much does it cost to publish a children's book in India? ›

In 2023, a general cost of publishing a book in India ranges from INR 8,000/- to INR 1,00,000/-. Let's explore the key expenses associated with book publishing in India. With the arrival of self publishing in India, the publishing market has changed and it has become very easy to publish a book in India.

Who is the largest publisher of children's books? ›

Scholastic is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, connecting educators and families through accessibility, engagement, and expertise.

What is the cheapest way to publish a children's book? ›

Ebook is the cheapest way to self-publish as Amazon, Lulu, Barnes & Noble Press, and other similar platforms don't charge a fee for uploading books.

Which is the cheapest self-publishing service in India? ›

OrangeBooks Publication offers the most affordable self publishing services in India under ₹3,000. We aim to provide professional self book publishing services, guidance and support to all emerging Indian Authors who inspires to write and publish their book with our Worldwide Availability on Print & eBook.

How much money do you need to publish a book in India? ›

The average cost of basic package in India is somewhere between 8,000- 20,000 INR. Standard package: This package includes all the basic services and additional features such as advanced editing and book formatting etc. Such packages range from 25,000- 50,000 INR.

How much does it cost to publish a children's picture book? ›

The cost to publish a children's book can be as little as $300. More realistically, you can expect to pay at least $1,500, but fees can climb north of $5,000.

What is the most sold childrens book? ›

The best-selling children's book of all time is The Little Prince, which was written by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The book has sold approximately 200,000,000 copies since it was published in 1943. The story is about a prince who visits various planets and explores themes of friendship, love, and loss.

How many pages does a children's book have to be to be published? ›

Children's Book Page Count

The vast majority of traditionally published picture books are 32 pages. In fact, many self-published kids book authors also stick to this page number. However, there are some picture books that come in at 24, 40, or 48 pages.

Can you submit a children's book to more than one publisher? ›

Simultaneous? Yes. Writers should have no trouble following such a policy, since almost every publisher of children's writing is willing to look at simultaneous submissions. But editors definitely want to be told whether a work has been sent elsewhere.

What is the average cost to publish a children's book? ›

The cost to publish a children's book can be as little as $300. More realistically, you can expect to pay at least $1,500, but fees can climb north of $5,000.

Is publishing children's books profitable? ›

Darcy Pattison has published over 60 books and now earns a six-figure income. They've all answered whether you can make money by self-publishing juvenile fiction with a resounding yes.

Is getting a children's book published hard? ›

Final words of advice

Getting your children's book (traditionally) published is a tough gig ... research shows that less than 1% of all aspiring authors secure a traditional publishing deal. But as someone who has successfully published a number of children's books, I can unequivocally say don't give up on your dream.

What do publishers look for in children's books? ›

A solid story with a strong ending will always grab an editor's attention. Often, plots in children's book submissions trail off or deviate in the middle of a story, or the ending falls flat. Keep things relatively simple - trying to do too much will weaken your plot.

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