‘The pieces looked like lifeless soldiers. But in Vishy’s mind, they were alive.’
To everyone else, the chessboard was just black-and-white squares. To Vishy, it was a fantastical world of leaping knights, swooping bishops, shape-shifting pawns and clever queens. With Amma as his opponent, every match was a battle of wits waiting to unfold.
Could Vishy outsmart Amma and find the winning move? And could these early games prepare him for the greatest chess stages in the world?
620 CE. Mamallapuram, India.
Twelve-year-old Pallavi’s father works at the royal court of Mamallapuram. Pallavi spends her days in its magnificent library, studying with her best friend Shobavathi and dreaming of becoming a scholar. But life at court is unpredictable.
When her father loses his job and is banished by the king for misconduct, Pallavi is forced to leave her lessons to help her stepmother run a seaside shop. But she cannot turn her back on her education. She secretly scribbles poems in hidden spots to practice writing Tamil. When a jug with a poem etched on it is discovered, it thrills scholars of the kingdom but also alerts its enemies. Suddenly, Pallavi finds herself thrust into a mysterious Chalukya plot to bring down the Pallava empire. To make matters worse, a strange woman arrives and shatters Pallavi’s world with a dark family secret.
Caught amidst spies, secrets, and betrayal, can Pallavi stop the Chalukyas, figure out whom to trust, and forgive her family’s hidden truths?
‘Our friends come to us by chance or by choice. They will not be with us all the time, but somehow, they will be around when we need them.’
ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FRIENDSHIP STORIES is a collection of twenty-five soulful and timeless tales about friendship in all its beautiful, surprising forms, featuring unforgettable characters and evocative illustrations.
From ‘The Playing Fields of Simla’ and ‘Rusty and Somi’ to ‘The Hidden Pool’ and ‘Two Boys and a Tiger’, each
story is filled with the warmth of companionship. There are schoolyard rivalries that turn into ties of loyalty,
chance encounters that become uncanny connections, friendships with animals and with nature itself and rare bonds that endure across distance, years and memory.
Curated by Ruskin Bond, this collection celebrates loyalty and longing, mischief and forgiveness, friendships that withstand time and separation and the magic of finding—and keeping—a friend.
Rini is a certified chatter-machine with a heart full of stories and a mind that never stops buzzing. She talks to everyone—her mirror, her plants, even the toaster—but at home, no one has time to listen.
Then one day, Rini stumbles upon the magical world of radio . . . a place where people want to hear you talk! Suddenly, becoming an RJ becomes her biggest dream. With a hairbrush for a mic and her eccentric neighbour Gaga as her cheerleader, Rini practices nonstop.
Set in the bustling Sunshine Colony, full of noisy courtyards, quirky aunties, and fairground chaos, this warm, funny story is about finding your voice and making sure it’s heard.
Nothing fascinates Ravi more than Grandpa’s magic box. What secrets does it hold?
About the Hook Book Series
In a world where children’s books often feel cut from the same cloth, Hook Books stand out as a vibrant blend of imagination, humour, and heart. Crafted as a bridge between picture books and early chapter books, this series delivers stories that spark joy and wonder, while remaining rooted in age-appropriate learning.
Hook Books keep the fun going with:
From fantasy tales to those that touch on more advanced ideas, Hook Books ensure that young readers are always in for a treat, no matter their reading level. Even better, these books take children on journeys through different parts of India, giving them a taste of the rich diversity of our world through local flavours, landscapes, and cultures. Whether the story takes place in bustling cities or quiet villages, Hook Books make every setting feel like home.
There are mysteries afoot—but yay, there are also detectives who will solve these! Meet Nina, who uses her special powers to find the stolen silver own; Nisha Small and Jamie, who have to find a missing wedding thaali, and Mira, who has to hunt down her grandfather’s purloined gold watch.
There a clues galore, and all kinds of villains, and some very clever thinking in this delightful collection of detecting unlimited.
Maithili and her friends never planned on landing up at an isle of rust and ritual. Not when there was a dance contest to win.
But a countdown now looms, and one wrong move could destroy everything. Can they escape the island in time? Or will they succumb to its insanity?
Step into the fourth instalment of Maithili and the Minotaur, set in an outlandish world where nothing is as it seems.
Discover a playful and lively world of stories made entirely of four-letter words without matras! With simple language and colorful illustrations, this book helps young children build confidence, improve comprehension, and develop a love for reading—all through fun, engaging activities.
What’s Inside:
Discover a playful and lively world of stories made entirely of two-letter words without matras! With simple language and colorful illustrations, this book helps young children build confidence, improve comprehension, and develop a love for reading—all through fun, engaging activities.
What’s Inside:
All Kanmani wants is a pink dress. How hard could it be? But many hurdles lie on the way—angry principals, wrong phone numbers, a clever conman and a falling moon . . .
