This collection of children's books about, and inspired by, South Asia reflects the rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and histories found across this vast, varied area. These stories often blend age-old traditions with modern experiences, offering young readers tales that are both rooted in heritage and relevant to contemporary life.
From ancient epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, which continue to inspire adaptations for children, to the moral lessons in the Panchatantra, storytelling has long played a vital role in the region’s culture.
In recent years we have welcomed a new wave of South Asian authors and illustrators that have been creating children's books with diverse characters, showcasing regional languages, and featuring everyday experiences —whether it’s navigating a new school, moving to a new area, celebrating festivals like Diwali or Eid, or understanding social issues through age-appropriate narratives. These books promote empathy, identity, and curiosity, often highlighting themes such as family, friendship, resilience, and justice.
Here we take a focused look at particular times in history, the geography, and the people of the region, and please do scroll down for our complete recommendations, covering fiction and fact books for all ages from picture books to YA novels.
Children's Books about South Asia during World War II
The countries of South Asia played a crucial part in World War Two, contributing soldiers, but also their people supplied coal, food, built infrastructure, and worked in ports and factories to support the war effort. Sufiya Ahmed, born in India but having lived almost her whole life in the UK has dedicated her writing to shine a light into this fascinating time in history. We have picked two titles but it is really worth visiting Sufiya's author page to find her full backlist. Coming highly recommended is her exciting mystery series Rosie Raja - an excellent source of fact and fiction. In Churchill's Spy Indian princess Rosina Raja is drawn into a thrilling spy mission with the French resistance in a story that parallels the real life events in India (with her aunt rebelling against British rule). And Under Fire, reviewed by Joy Court for LoveReading4Schools, "is another highly readable and engaging slice of historical storytelling from an author who is becoming well known for books which, by revealing little known aspects, can help us all to decolonise our understanding of history. I certainly learnt more about life in India in WW2, as we accompanied 12-year-old Anglo Indian Hassan on his journey from Coventry to Calcutta in 1943. A fascinating glimpse into wartime India and the early days of the fight for Independence".
Children's Books about Partition and Indian Independence
The Partition of 1947 was a historic and deeply traumatic event that divided British India into two independent nations of India and Pakistan. It led to one of the largest mass migrations in history, as millions of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs crossed newly drawn borders to seek safety. Families were separated, communities torn apart, and widespread violence marked the period. The effects of Partition continue to shape the politics, identities, and memories of the region to this day, and introduced religion into politics - a facet that has remained. In her novel, The Line they Drew Through Us, Hiba Noor Khan explores this dark period in history through the eyes of three young children. Also reviewed by Joy Court who wrote, the Partition "is insufficiently studied or known about and yet it is very much a part of family history for so many in our society and often the reason why families are here at all. With her superb ability to create indelible and credible child characters, that live with you long after you close the book, she enables us not just to learn about what happened in that turbulent time, but to really feel the emotional impact."
Independence came after years of uprisings and tensions between the people of the region and the British colonial rulers. In Escape from Amritsar Bali Rai tells of the shameful and bloody Jallianwala Bagh Massacre when hundreds of Indians were killed, and thousands more injured, whilst attending a public Pro-Indian Independence gathering in 1919. The story follows Arjan, living in Amritsar as "tensions mount between coloniser troops and the local community, and Arjan’s father is captured, wrongly accused of being a rioter. And so Arjan sets off on a dangerous journey to find him. As their perilous race-against-time rises to a heart-pounding climax, readers of eleven upwards will be gripped and roused by the bravery of a young boy, while also being informed about a terribly brutal chapter in British history." As British colonialism in India is now a KS3 topic, Escape from Amritsar comes highly recommended for use in the classroom context.
Information Books for Children about South Asia and its history and culture
South Asia is made up of eight countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The history of this ancient region is fascinating, home to the Indus, one of the world's earliest known civilisations it is now one of the most densely populated areas in the world. It enjoyed economic links across the ancient world, becoming an early trading hub which played a crucial role it its development and cultural influence throughout the world. The region saw the birth of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and later Islam - religions that have spread across the globe. Geologically topped by the Himalayas in the north, and lapped in the south by the Indian Ocean, it is a geographically diverse area of deserts, tropical rainforests and fertile plains. The arrival of the British East India Company in the 18th century saw Britain take control over the area, profoundly shaping and reshaping political and national boundaries.
Sathnam Sanghera’s Stolen History comes highly recommended when understanding this complex history that has had a lasting impact on the people of South Asia and the UK, writing “It explains so much about Britain as a nation, including where our money comes from, the stuff we find in our museums, the reason the country is home to citizens of all different backgrounds, the food we eat, the words we use and so much more.” Sanghera, author of the award winning Empireland has followed his debut children's book with more tales in Journeys of Empire, told through 10 journeys that take readers on a voyage through Britain's imperial history.
And following this theme of journeys, author Jasbinder Bilan takes a journey through India in this stunning celebration of the culture and history of India, Incredible India. We were thrilled that Jasbinder shared the story of this book in this fascinating interview, part of our LoveReading4Kids Author Event series.
Stories about life in Afghanistan and beyond
Throughout our recent history Afghanistan has been in our headlines, following the US invasion in 2001 after the appalling terrorist atrocity of 9/11, the subsequent 20 year period saw US and Nato forces support a power-sharing government but still there was wide unrest. Many military and civilians were killed. The retreat of Western forces in 2021 allowed the Taliban to regain control, and the area saw even greater numbers of Afghan nationals seeking refuge. My Name is Samim is one of a number of novels that tell the story of young people, their lives devastated by war and having lost their families, making their way to the sanctuary of the UK. Andrea Reece, reviewing, said "At a time when refugees are regularly demonised, described as less than human, or regarded with fear and suspicion, one of the many strengths of Fidan Meikle’s immensely moving and sensitively written story, is the way it lets us see through Samim’s eyes, as he and Zayn make their journey, forced onto a road they didn’t choose."
Michael Morpurgo, master storyteller and empath, has written widely about the experiences of animals and children, the innocent victims of war. In Shadow he tells a "passionate and touching story of an Afghan boy and the dog who helped him to escape from his war torn country." And in a series of books that spans two decades and begins with The Breadwinner, Deborah Ellis exposes life in war-torn Afghanistan, the brutality of the Taliban, the real-life hardships of living under such a regime.
Children's Books celebrating Heroes from South Asia
The books that detail the incredible life story of Malala Yousafzai could command a whole collection of their own, such is the impact of her achievements. At 15 years old Malala was shot in the head whilst on her way to school in Pakistan, in defiance of the Taliban's ban on girls attending school. She survived, and has gone on to campaign across the globe for the rights of every child to receive an education, being the youngest person in history to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Now a prominent human rights activist, Malala continues her fight through the Malala Fund. Older readers are recommended I Am Malala written by Malala in conjunction with Patricia McCormick, and for younger readers the Little People BIG DREAMS series have a superb biography.
Malala a Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal a Brave Boy from Pakistan by Jeanette Winter celebrates the life of another young activist, Iqbal Masih, who campaigned against the abusive child labour practices in Pakistan which saw him sold into slavery, working up to 14 hours a day, mistreated and beaten. He escaped on several occasions, and whilst free he helped thousands of children escape slavery. He brought the attention of the world to the horror of child labour and debt slavery in Pakistan, but paid for this with his life when he was shot and killed aged only 12 years old.
Sufiya Ahmed tells the fascinating stories of two prominent Indian suffragettes; Princess Sophia Duleep Singh who used her fame and position in society to fight for equality, and Lolita Roy who campaigned for social reform and whose story featured in the first of the brilliant The Time Travellers series, Adventure Calling.
The Time Machine Next Door is an excellent chapter book series from Iszi Lawrence, that cleverly combines time-slip adventures with historical facts. Starring a protagonist of Indian heritage named Sunil and his scientist neighbour Alex, every one of books in the series is highly readable but we've picked out Artists and a Disappearing Dog when the team meet the chief architect of the beautiful Taj Mahal, Ustad Ahmad Lohri, responsible for India's most famous cultural site.
Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month
Two years in the planning, the first SAHM took place in 2020, and launched with an aim to "elevate the prominence of British South Asian history and heritage through education, arts, culture, celebration and commemoration." South Asian Heritage Month 25 ran from 18 July to 17 August saying "We spotlight South Asian stories, spark conversations, and bring people together through bold events, creative education, and unapologetic community power. It’s about heritage, yes, but also visibility, pride, and participation all year round."
Find out more about South Asian Heritage Month, commemorating the history, spreading education and celebrating the wonderfully rich shared heritage.
Support the South Asian Illustration and Literature Festival
SAIL Festival was created by a collective of South Asian women working in children's books in the UK in 2024. SAIL Fest is the first of its kind in the UK, and is dedicated to celebrating, connecting and empowering South Asian children’s authors, poets and illustrators creating books for younger readers between the ages of 0-17. The festival aims to bring together the South Asian children’s book community from across the country; from publishers and booksellers to aspiring creatives, teachers and librarians. Read more about the festival here.
From the end of World War II, after Partition, and from age old links with these ancient countries, people from South Asia have made their lives in the UK. South Asian culture has greatly influenced Britain in many ways from food, clothing, music, language and architecture. The books in this collection recognise and celebrate the millions of people with South Asian heritage living in the UK.
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