Picture books with South Asian characters

Bilal and Sofia, who are perhaps around three or four, are excited that Mum – Ammi – is going to have a new baby. Bilal plans to share all his favourite animals with the new baby, and Sofia says she is going to teach the baby how to make rockets.

Follow a father and child in an imaginative journey towards bedtime. Based on traditional Indian lullabies, this rhyming book is ideal for bedtime. A feast for the senses.

A baby watches an adult making bhorta, a South Asian dish of spicy mashed potatoes: potatoes go in to boil, then chillies and onion are fried up. Baby mashes the squishy potatoes: such fun! Then the oil and salt is added and the bhorta is made into little balls. Yummy! 

Hana can’t find the family’s Eid presents! She looks everywhere – will she find them in time for Eid? A fun search-and-find story.

A bedtime countdown book which celebrates the power of the extended family. 

An enjoyable rhyming book with wholesome illustrations, Not That Pet! is perfect for young families considering bring an animal into their lives, and a lovely story about an everyday family and their dynamics. 

When being the youngest and smallest gets too annoying, Ravi roars and turns into a tiger! But who wants to play with a tiger? An entertaining book about losing your temper and recovering from it.

A beautifully tender story about love, art and death, set in India

Rajiv doesn’t know why he’s thrown his toy against the wall, so his dad shows him a way to identify his feelings. Gentle and beautiful, this could spark conversations about emotions with pre-schoolers. 

Nabil gets more than he bargains for on a trip to the zoo. After introducing a charming penguin to his mum’s delicious biryani, the waddling creature decides to hitch a ride in Nabil’s rucksack in the hopes that he can try more scrumptious dishes. 

Will Intisar learn the correct dance in time for her auntie’s wedding? A lovely book that celebrates individuality. 

In this charming board book, a little girl takes the reader through her daily routine at home with her family in Pakistan.

This joyful picture book celebrates what makes us who we are, from the qualities we inherit from family to our cultural heritage and personal experiences. With lyrical text and stunning illustrations, this is an unusual, thought-provoking and uplifting tale.  

It’s Diwali and Binny is so excited! She has a snazzy new outfit to wear and lots of beautiful streamers and sweet treats to share with her classmates. A charming picture book celebrating the joy of Diwali, just one of the thousands of religious festivals around the world.

All the women in Noor’s family wear headscarves and she’s curious to find out why. Is a hijab worn to hide big ears or keep snacks safe? 

A little girl describes how she feels to have a foot in two worlds – to be a glorious mix of all her family members and their culture, history, and experiences. A lovely book to share with children of every family background. 

Who will win the powder paint challenge? One girl and her grandad will try their best. A colourful celebration of a colourful festival! 

Noor’s cousin is getting married and Noor’s family is throwing a henna party to celebrate. Noor is especially excited to play the ​‘henna name game’ – when you choose a loved one’s name to be hidden in the henna. A heart-warming tale of tradition, family and love.