Happy Parent's Day: A whole lotta love for all the pet, plant and human caregivers!

‘Appreciate all parents throughout the world’ read this year’s global theme for Parents’ Day. 

Looking beyond the conventional notions of father-mother parenting, we’re recognising and celebrating all the awesome, paw-some, blossoming parents out there, their wonderful extended families and many supportive communities, who together help build a healthy and safe support system for the children in their lives. 

Across cultures, parenting by choice is usually regarded as very rewarding journey, though we fully acknowledge that people’s pursuit in life might vary. On this occasion, however, we pause to wonder… What makes someone a parent? Is parental care boundless or restrictive? Is it a role that comes in one size and fits all or can it be customised to suit us best? If one were to opt for it, is birthing the only route to parenthood? 

 

“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother,” said well-known television host Oprah Winfrey. Then there’s ‘alloparenting’, a term coined by socio-biologist Edward Wilson. This is when an individual gives care, time and/or resources towards a non-descendent young – like a parent, to humans or even plants or animals. Alloparents could be teachers, mentors, grandparents, extended family members, babysitters, domestic workers or caregivers who, in the bigger picture, share the parenting role. 

Psychologists in fact believe that inter-generational and collective living is vital for a child’s development. So we see how in many traditional cultures where family is considered supreme, caregiving is less centred around the primary birth or legal parents. Older or younger siblings, cousins and experienced caretakers like grandparents play an active role in bringing up children. Several of Tulika’s books reflect that…

Zakir and His Tabla: Dha Dhin Na

The famous tabla maestro’s first guru was his father Allarakha. Breaking many parenting conventions, he enriched little Zakir’s life from when he was a little baby – murmuring tabla bols or beats in his ear as a ‘prayer’!

 

The Lonely King and Queen

Here’s a one-of-a-kind bedtime story about adoption. With gentleness, humour and charm, it leads to a wider understanding of ‘family’. More, it reaffirms the right of every child to be loved and to have a home. 

 

Anya and her Baby Brother 

A very special picture book on sibling rivalry and sibling love. With a bit of sci-fi, a bit of humour, a large bit of inventiveness, and cheerful pictures that bring it all together! 

 

I Will Save My Land 

Her grandmother refused to give up her fields when faced with the social prejudices of her village, so it is no wonder that Mati will not give up her own little patch of land when the big ‘company’ comes to snatch it away for mining. An irresistibly told story that has at its heart a little girl’s relationship with her grandmother.

 

Gone Grandmother 

Another grandmother story, except here she’s gone… Somewhere up in the sky, Nina’s mother tells her. But HOW? Nina wants to know, and comes up with her own answers. An award-winning picture book, where a little girl finds her Nani through the warmth of memories, the comfort of imagination – and a little bit of natural science! 

 

The Trickster Bird

Renchu is sick and she begs for a story. So Daadi obliges, as grandmas always do. But through her affectionate rendering of the tale of how Renchu’s grandfather was once tricked by a partridge, Daadi also brings in the world of the Paardhi tribals and how families who once were happy forest dwellers are now reduced to ragpicking – perhaps so Renchu knows where she came from.

 

The Boy with Two Grandfathers 

Not everyone has two grandfathers quite like Amol’s! From the way they look to the way they speak, the food they eat and the way they think, they couldn’t be more different. But when the going gets tough, Amol couldn’t ask for a tougher twosome to stand by him. A bittersweet novel for pre-teens which speaks volumes about the diverse parenting roles of two grandfathers, from a Bal Sahitya Puraskar winning writer.

 

Just a Train Ride Away

Santosh craves the space for both parents in his life, and decides to do something about it. A short, quick-read novel, winner of the Bal Sahitya Puraksar, which explores the delicate web of relationships with a light and honest touch.

The last few years have seen an interest in the idea of sustainable parenting, where families or individuals chose different paths based on their mental and physical health, lifestyles, time and resources. With the pandemic, there’s also been an increasing societal shift towards positive change. In the various paths to parenthood, several millennial parents have moved from ‘owning’ pets or plants to ‘parenting’ them. As an inspirational trend, children, who have been indoors for over a year now, are getting weaned away from the screens to care for other living beings intuitively. Showing us that people, across all age groups, cherish caring, protecting and nurturing living beings. 

Many of our books convey that young ones – whether human, furry or leafy – need lots of love, sunlight, water and care! These are deeply meaningful relationships and we are happy to share a list of books that embraces parenthood with open and wide arms! 

 

Aloe-lujah! Our favourites that root for you, green thumbs!

The Seed

I Planted A Seed

 Let’s Plant Trees

Woof woof! Purrr-fect reads for pet parents:

 Pooni Pooni, Where are You?

Appaka

Catch That Cat!

 Pooni At The Taj Mahal

Where’s That Cat? 

Maoo and the Moustaches

Our Incredible Cow 

Little Anbu

Shabana and the Baby Goat

 

A popular African adage says, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.' We in India know that well – for don’t our children grow up within a buzzing community of people! And bringing this idea to life full-size is everyone’s lovable ele-friend Gajapati Kulapati! With four books about him already crowd favourites, find out what he is up to in our new fun-tastic activity book Gajapati Kulapati’s Big Day – Colour, Count, Create. Get all the yummy snacks ready, gather the village and celebrate this BIG day with Gajapati Kulapati and his friends! BUY NOW! 

 Soulmates or soil-mates, they’re all purr-fect for showing love!

Warrior Women: Q and A with author-illustrator Tara Anand

 Flashing swords, firing guns, charging on horseback, planning strategies and talking peace… these twelve warriors did it all, and how! Some were royalty and some ordinary, but extraordinary courage and determination was common among these women.

Setting aside stories about men who ruled and protected women, Warrior Women is a slice of our lesser-known history, which the talented Tara Anand (author and illustrator) brings to light with striking illustrations.  We spoke to the history buff about her book, her art and her interests.  

A lot of young people find history boring. How about you?

I love history. I will continue to obsessively consume history related podcasts, books, movies and documentaries.

What kind of books have had an impact on you?

I read a lot, so it’s difficult to pin down just a few that have had an impact on me. Although, the books that I read as a kid like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, definitely had the most lasting impact on me!

In an interview, you once said that you grew up reading a lot of Tulika books. Any favourites?

I still have my first copy of Ekki Dokki. I even took it with me to college in the US!

Talking about this book, can you tell us where the seed came from and how it germinated into Warrior Women?

It started with a conversation I had with someone, where we were talking about powerful women in history, and I couldn’t name more than one or two Indians. So, I went home and did the research, which turned into my initial series of illustrations (‘I Am No Man’). I think, collaborating with Tulika and expanding the illustrations into a book, gave more dimensions to the stories!

What pops out of this book are the bold visuals. Did the look come to you right away, or did you work on it?

My favourite part of any piece is the colours, so that was my priority while working on the visuals. I definitely had to work on them a lot, because I wanted to create spreads that were fun, bold and super colourful!

Tara's bold visualisations brings the courage of 12 warriors to light 

Warrior Women is being hailed for its feminist approach to history. Was shifting the male-centric focus your motive?

Definitely. I think the version of history that most people know is primarily the story of men. So telling the story of women, especially those with power and agency, restores balance to the narrative. Alongside, it also gives 21^st century women an idea about the legacy that they’re a part of!

Could you name some gender stereotype defying books that you think are must-reads for young readers?

Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls is an obvious must. Similarly, Like a Girl (that I was lucky enough to contribute a couple of illustrations to) by Aparna Jain, covers Indian women across various fields, and Frida by Jonah Winter and Ana Juan is also really lovely! Outside the children’s picture books realm, I think Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a timeless story about a very strong, intelligent female character. Also, for the slightly older audience, I’d suggest Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and Katie Green’s Lighter Than My Shadow.

Who are your favourite illustrators?

This list is always changing, but I’m currently loving Emma Rios, Jillian Tamaki and Frances Jetter!

Where does your art take inspiration from?

Usually, from a lot from fine arts, comics, animated movies, books and the people in my life!

The next book with Tulika is on women scientists. Any others in the pipeline?

I’d love to work on something about women in art or dance. It’s also my indulgent wish to illustrate a story about a tiger, because I love drawing them!

Want to dive into history with Tara’s dynamic illustrations?

Grab your copy of the Warrior Women here!

  

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Tara Anand is a Mumbai-based illustrator, currently doing a BFA at the School of Visual Arts, New York. Her art is influenced by books, history and people around her. In 2016, at just age 17, she illustrated warrior queens from Indian history in the series I am no man, which won her a 'First Ladies' award from the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Picked up by Tulika, it evolved into this book.