The Toka Box Top South Asian Children's Books of 2022!
Here are the standout children's books of 2022!
Come off it! You always say that the previous year has been a great one for books!
No, we mean it! Here's an example.
In 2022, we saw a book in Hindi, Gutargoo, which is an honor board book in our list. It took the touch-and-feel factor to another level with the 'chip chip gira kuch mere upar' and a 'puchuk' with a super sticky part of the book that the child can touch! Ha! Show me a child who doesn't laugh when reading such a book!
We have a stunning children's book on the Partition, a garden book for preschoolers that teach us something powerful about harvests, and a graphic novel about the Portuguese colonization of India told from the points of view of cannons and printing presses.
I rest my case.
I really believe we are pushing boundaries with children's literature in South Asia!
How we chose the books
We read as many children's books as we possibly can and we also read them with the children in our lives - our kids, nephews, nieces, friends, acquaintances, and more. We actively solicit entries for the Top Books list. There is no doubt that there are many more amazing books out there that escaped our net but these are the ones that spoke to us and our readers in the US, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and the UK.
There are a few guidelines we follow. We look for books that tell South Asian stories meant for ALL children from all over the world. We truly connect with our children and are adventurous, reflective, and creative, and signal a move towards greater diversity in thought and talent. While the search for heartfelt meditations and meaning is always important, we want books that explore new ideas, genres, and possibilities.
We believe that books should be meaningful, memorable, representative, and high-caliber but above everything else, they need to be fun! Children should love to read them and pick them up again and again. Keeping this in mind, we picked books that speak to this generation of young readers and spark their love for turning the page day after day.
Here is our list!
Top Board Book of 2022
Top Picture Book (Age 3-5 years) of 2022
A tender, beautifully illustrated story about a girl in America and her grandmother in India, whose love stretches between languages and cultures—and across the world.
When Jyoti visits her grandmother halfway around the world, she is overwhelmed by the differences between India and home. At first, she feels lonely and out of place, but soon, despite a language barrier, she and Sita Pati are able to understand each other. They form a bond—looking at books together, making designs with colored sand, shopping at the market, playing games, eating chapatis, and sipping warm milk with saffron to bring sweet dreams. When it’s time to part, Jyoti doesn’t want to leave, but then she remembers that in Tamil, people don’t say goodbye, they say “I’ll go and come back.” Sure enough, the two reunite the next summer when Pati visits Jyoti in America, and it’s Jyoti’s turn to make her feel welcome. Can they create some special memories that will last until the next time they see each other?
Buy this book now!
Buy this book now!
Top Picture Book 6-8 of 2022
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Top Early Chapter Books of 2022
Honor Book:
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Top Middle-Grade Chapter Book of 2022
Top Non-Fiction Chapter Book of 2022
I love art mysteries from around the world, from the Mona Lisa to Stonehenge but I am sure there are so many incredible mysteries in India too. This book tells the stories of ten mysterious people, styles, and objects in Indian art from the prehistoric period to the present day and in the process, it captures some of the diversity and range of the very large canvas we call Indian art. The stories told here include those of the Bhimbetka paintings, the Pithora paintings, the women artists of the Mughal era, and the mystery of the Indian yellow tint used in art. Mamta Nainy explores diverse artistic periods, explains different art forms, and gives insights into the lives of artists working in different times and spaces, one curious case at a time.
Top Graphic Novels of 2022
Winner: People of the Indus by Nikhil Gulati and Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
Many artists and writers in the children's book space were talking so glowingly about this graphic novel and it exceeded our expectations! Supported by extensive research from a leading Indus archaeologist, this graphic novel seeks answers to precise questions about people from the Indus Valley Civilization and their lives. The stunningly illustrated book gives us many looks at the people during this civilization which dates back to 3200 BC.
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Honor Book: Batata, Pao and All Things Portuguese by Vaishali Shroff, Illustrated by Suha Riyaz Khopatkar
We know that the Portuguese colonized India but did you know that they left so much behind by way of influence? Batata pav, what we understand to be a quintessentially Mumbai dish, has its origins in Portugal! In this beautiful graphic novel, Vaishali Shroff narrates the Portuguese colonization from the point of view of cannons and printing presses. It is an incredible fly-on-the-wall look at some of the greatest moments in Indian history. Says Vaishali, "I look around in Mumbai and right from the East Indians to the baobab trees to churches to my favorite vada pavs, all remind me of Portuguese origins. This book serves as an eye-opener for kids who are absolutely unaware of Portuguese India between 1498 and 1961." A great book for history and food lovers too!
Buy this book now!
Best Illustration
WINNER: Chitty: A Dog and Her Forest Farm, written by Serow and illustrated by Rajiv Eipe
Rajiv Eipe's illustrations match Serow's brilliant writing, word for word. Chitty herself is drawn so realistically that you almost reach out to touch her head or gaze into her beautiful eyes. You almost walk into the magnificence of the stars in the Western Ghats or reach out to catch the flying termites that Chitty loves to chase. The forests come alive with Rajiv Eipe's illustrations and you are mesmerized.
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Honor book: Making Happy, written by Sheetal Sheth and illustrated by Khoa Le
Khoa Le's illustrations work magic here. The picture of Leila, her mom and her dad in bed spending time together will remain in our hearts for a lifetime. The book is based on the author Sheetal Sheth's own experience battling cancer as a parent of young kids. The book helps us find light in the darkest of moments. We read it together as a family and we sensed a connection so close and timeless that it felt as all-encompassing as the quilt that Leila and her classmates make for her mother.