India
Dadaji's Paintbrush
By Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Ruchi Mhasane (Illustrator)
Dadaji’s Paintbrush. Rashmi Sirdeshpande. Illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane. Levine Querido, 2022. Originally published in the UK by Andersen Press. ISBN 9781646141722. 32 p. (Ages 4-8). Picture book.
A heartwarming story about a grandfather and grandson and their love for painting accompanied with illustrations created using colored pencils and pastels, that capture the beauty of Konkan coast of India. Would pair well with Cry, Heart, But Never Break by Glenn Ringtved. The author is based in London and is a lawyer turned children’s author. A Jhalak Prize Nominee for Children’s & YA (2023) and The Diverse Book Award for Best Picture Book (2023) Winner. Watch a read-aloud of Dadaji’s Paintbrush by the author, Rashmi Sirdeshpande. [mi]
We are the Dancing Forest
By Raj Shekhar, Devashish Makhija (Translator), Venkat Shyam (Illustrator)
We Are the Dancing Forest. Raj Shekhar. Translated by Devashish Makhija. Illustrated by Venkat Shyam. Tulika Books, 2022. Originally published as Hum Jangal Ke Jagar Magar in Hindi by Tulika Books, in Chennai, in 2022. ISBN 9789390834716. 24 p. (Ages 5 and up). Picture book.
A story inspired by an Adivasi (Indigenous) song from Telangana, India, that pays tribute to forests and nature with beautiful art by a Gond (Indigenous folklore) artist. Would pair well with A Bhil Story by Sher Singh Bhil and Rainbow Crow by Nancy Van Laan. The author was born and brought up in a farming family in Bihar. He is a Hindi film lyricist based in Mumbai. Recognition includes a 2023 Green Literature Festival Children’s Honor book, 2023 Valley of Words Book Awards (shortlisted), 2023 Neev Book Awards - Junior Readers (longlisted), and 2023 Mehlli Gobhai Children’s Book Illustrator Award (shortlisted). Watch this video by the illustrator Venkat Shyam on his Gond art style. [mi]
China & Taiwan
China
The Story of Ink and Water
By Li Qingye, Chun Zhang (Translator), Peilong Liang (Illustrator)
The Story of Ink and Water. Li Qingye. Translated by Chun Zhang. Illustrated by Peilong Liang. Balestier Press, 2018. Originally published in China in 2013. ISBN 9781911221074. 36 p. (Ages 3 and up+).
An imaginative exploration of Chinese painting from a child’s perspective. We meet Water Girl, Brush Boy and Ink Boy, who discover that if they work as a team, they can create beautiful paintings. Former nursery school teacher Li Qingye weaves into the text details about traditional Chinese ink painting, which are complemented by the masterful ink paintings by illustrator Peilong Liang, which themselves are examples of the techniques described. Liang is an award-winning illustrator. [dj]