14 Hindi Board and Picture Books for Your Child
Happy Hindi Diwas! If you are planning to raise your child bilingual and Hindi is your chosen language then, we at Toka Box are really excited about the amazing book choices, especially for young kids these days.
1. Kahaani Purani
Recommended Age 0+ Years
What it's about: Kahaani Purani is written in both Devanagari and Roman scripts. It is a simple but rhythmic poem and children will love reciting it as much as they will love the way the story is retold. This is a fun and delightful way of learning the language too. Don't miss it for your little ones!
What we love about it: We love this beautiful board book on the story of Rama and Sita. We don't have enough board books with Indian stories and certainly not enough on Indian mythology, stories, and culture. We love the flaps and tabs. The illustrations are absolutely superb! It is thrilling to explore and share this story with our children. The book is also a great way to learn Hindi.
Buy this book now!
2. Das Din by Pridhee and Alicia D'Souza
Recommended Age 0+ Years
What it's about
Das Din is a wonderful Hindi nursery rhyme from our childhood. Rhymes are such fun to recite and so offer a great way to learn the language.
What we love about it
This is a board book with flaps to open and tabs to pull is a fun way to learn to count in Hindi
Buy this book now!
3. Shubh Raatri Dost
Recommended Age 0+ Years
What it's about: Shubh Raatri Dost is written by Nidhi Chanani. This beautiful bilingual Hindi-English board book shows how Bhai (brother) and Behan (sister) walk through their Indian farm home, bidding each and every animal goodnight.
What we love about it: The book, with its refrain of 'Shubh Raatri' or 'good night,' works as a beautiful bedtime story. Its mood, ambiance, and the gentleness of its words and illustrations really make it a soothing, calm, and gentle bedtime tale for babies.
Every sentence in every page has a Hindi translation in the Hindi script, Romanized Hindi, and English, making this an accessible and easy bilingual book that actually works! We love the way the babies in the book say 'dhanyavaad' or 'thank you.' We love the sequence that the book follows, the soothing repetition, and the rhythm.
Buy this book now!
4. My First Hindi Words by Reena Bhansali
Recommended Age 0+ Years
The book is simple, fun, and colorful. What I noticed was that my daughter was not intimidated to pick it up and glance through it when I had left it for her to read. Each page has a colorful background with an object in it and the word to describe it in Hindi (but written in English).
This meant that my daughter could pick it up herself and use it as a reference. The other day, she was walking around yelling "Silly, Billi" at our cat. Then she confirmed Billi really did mean cat in her My First Hindi Words book! Perfect!
We are well on our way to crossing the first barrier; learning a few words, not worrying about the accent, and using that word in a sentence, albeit a "silly" one.
If you are just starting out on your Hindi vocabulary journey and need a book that holds your child's interest and meets them where they are without intimidating them with the Hindi script and complex words, this is a must-have in your library!
Buy this book now!
5. Meri Bindi by Anu Anand
Recommended Age 3+ Years
What it's about
A little girl – Noor and a little boy – Neel, a packet of Bindis, and a menagerie of animals complete the book.
What we love about it
It covers quite a bit of Hindi vocabulary - from
Buy this book now!
6. My First Hindi Book by Chandni Bhatia
Recommended Age 3+ Years
What it's about
It introduces your child to colors, counting, and animals in English and Hindi.
What we love about it
The author believes that short and frequent reinforcement and repetition of the language offer Indian children living abroad the ability to really learn the language thus offering them a genuine connection to their culture.
Buy this book now!
7. My First Hindi Book of Opposites by Chandni Bhatia
Recommended Age 3+ Years
What it's about
This book introduces your child to everyday opposites and objects in English and Hindi.
What we love about it
The Hindi words are written in English letters to make it easy for children and caregivers to read! The book introduces at least two key language words on each page and focuses on teaching the language as a whole.
Buy this book now!
8. Follow The Ants / Chintiyon Ke Peeche Peeche by Amrutha Satish
Recommended Age 3+ Years
What it's about
Anita loves all small things - pebbles, insects, shells, and worms. One day she sees a long line of little ants. Curious, she decides to follow them. But where do they take her finally?
What we love about it
The translation by Maneesha Taneja is easy to read. The book is a delightful way to introduce toddlers to everyday Hindi words and make them observe things around us
Buy this book now!
9. Balu's Basket by Chitra Soundar
Recommended Age 3+ Years
What it's about
One day, Balu finds a basket. What does he do with
What we love about it
A great way to introduce preschoolers to the Hindi words.
Buy this book now!
10. Not Yet/Abhi Nahin by Nandana Dev Sen
Recommended Age 3+ Years
What it's about: "My dear, it’s time for bed,” says Ma. But “Can a frog stand on its head?” wonders her little girl. Lost in a world where she must learn to fly with birds in the sky, snuggle a whale, kiss the kangaroo… she has so much to do! Sleep? Not yet!
What we love about it: It is every parent's tussle, isn't it? The author narrates it beautifully. The Hindi translation is stunning!
Buy this book now!
11. Dinaben and the Lions of Gir
Recommended Age 3+ Years
What it's about
Dinaben is a Maldhari and her village is right in the middle of the Gir Forest where the Lions live. What does she do? How does she live? The book offers glimpses into how the Maldharis and the
What we love about it
Children will find it easy and fun to follow the story in 2 languages.
Buy this book now!
12. Gol Mol Bol by Pridhee
Recommended Age 0+ Years
What it's about
A book of familiar Hindi nursery rhymes from our childhood. The book comes with music by Ramya Shankar, available for download. Akkad, Bakkad Bumbe Bo, all the rhymes we loved as kids! The Machali poem is a message about letting someone thrive in their natural environment.
What we love about it
This book has poems in Hindi script as well as a transliteration like the board book. Such beautiful poems are also part of our heritage.
Buy this book now!
13. My First Book of Hindi Words by Rina Singh
Recommended Age 3+ Years
What it's about
This is an ABC Rhyming Book of Hindi Language and Indian Culture/
What we love about it
This book has been in our library for a while, a great introduction to Hindi words from A to Z - from Akaash to Zukaam! There is a new word introduced for each letter of the alphabet. The word is written in Hindi script and English. It is accompanied by a little rhyme in English that incorporates the meaning of the Hindi word. I learned a few words myself like Olay for Hailstones and Lattoo for a spinning top!
14. Raiit Mein Paanv/Feet in the Sand by Sakshi Singh
Recommended Age 5+ Years
What it's about: Raiit Mein Paanv (Feet In The Sand) is a bilingual poetry book about the stories of the sand and the sea, of you and me. It focuses on the need of the hour to save our earth and clean our planet in a fun and childlike way!
What we love about it: The Hindi verse is lovely and rhythmic. The story is wonderful and encourages children to protect the planet.