ANIRUDH NAIR is an actor, theatre director and teacher who is learning the ancient Indian classical dance form of Kathakali.

ANITHA BALACHANDRAN has illustrated numerous books for children and has recently started writing for them too. She studied animation at the National Institute of Design at Ahmedabad and the Royal College of Art, London and is currently based in Delhi.

ANSHUMAN MOHAN’s first book was published whilst studying at St. Xavier’s Collegiate School in Kolkata.

ANTHONY HOROWITZ began writing at the age of eight. He is an amazingly prolific author, screenwriter and a playwright whose books are beloved of children across the world.

ANUPA LAL’s storytelling mesmerises children. She has written over 20 books including picture books, collections of poems, mythology, folk tales and translations.

ANUSHKA RAVISHANKAR has written several books for children, including plays and picture books in verse.

ARJUN VAJPAI is the youngest Indian, at 16, to scale Mt. Everest. He is an athlete who dreams of conquering the highest peaks in the world and both the Poles.

ARKA MUKHOPADYAY is a poet and theatre performer, who conducts workshops with children and teachers using plays and poetry.

BANDANA SEN has been turning libraries into happy, happening places for many decades while sharing her passion for books and energising children to read more.

CINDY JEFFERIES is best known for her series about young musicians and dancers. She also collaborated with her son on a series about young footballers.

ISHARA PUPPET THEATRE TRUST, led by DADI PUDUMJEE, creates magic with a variety of puppets and masks

DEEPAK DALAL writes adventure stories set in the wild and wonderful destinations of India. He is an adventurer, traveller and wildlife enthusiast.

DIANA de GUNZBURG and TONY WILD are old friends who share an interest in the Indian subcontinent, especially the British period of India’s history.

FRANCOIS ROCA is a popular French illustrator for children and has received numerous awards for his books. Among them is a book set in India.

HEMA PANDE is a veteran author of children’s books and folktales are her forte. She has studied Japanese for many years and published many collections of stories.

JAAVED JAFFERI likes to make people laugh. He is a popular actor, impressionist, comedian and TV anchor and is a favourite with children with his hilarious extempore hosting of the show Takeshi’s Castle.

JEEVA RAGHUNATH is a teacher, writer and storyteller who tells her tales in three languages – French, English and Tamil. Her repertoire includes folk tales, true-life and cross-cultural stories.

JOHN SHULMAN, one-time professional footballer, is a human rights lawyer and filmmaker who writes fantasy books which touch on contemporary issues.

KARTIK SHARMA is like a magician conducting many kinds of exciting and creative activity workshops with children through crafts and impromptu performances.

KEN SPILLMAN is the author of 20 books. He is co-author of a popular series for Australian primary school children.

LEILA SETH is a former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh and a member of the Law Commission of India. She is involved in arbitration and human rights work.

LIAN TANNER lives by the beach in South Tasmania and has written many books and plays for children.

MALAVIKA PC is a painter, illustrator of children’s books, print designer and theatre actor. She has illustrated and written five books.

MARIAM KARIM-AHLAWAT is a university lecturer, writes books, runs creative writing workshops and designs multimedia for children.

MONIDEEPA SAHU’s short fiction has appeared in several international literary collections. She writes a column for the Bangalore Mirror and also contributes to the Deccan Herald.

NATASHA SHARMA has marketed watches, coffee and pizzas before discovering her love for children’s books. She writes about animals and the environment.

PANCHAM YADAV, 11, is a young author whose adventure story ‘The School Ghost’ has just been published. He likes to write thriller adventure stories and does his own illustrations as well.

PARTHIV and VIDYA SHAH. Parthiv works in the area of visual communications and runs the Centre for Media and Alternative Communications. Vidya is a musician and social activist.

PARNAB MUKHERJEE is an independent media analyst, performance consultant and leading alternative theatre director whose work often showcases human rights issues.

PRAYAG SHUKLA, a Sahitya winner, is a well-known poet, art critic, editor and author of books of Hindi fiction for adults and children.

R RAMACHANDRAN is the executive director of the National Book Development Council of Singapore.

RAJESH NAGULAKONDA is an Art Director whose illustrations have spanned from e-greeting cards to award winning children’s books and even fascinating nail art.

RAMESH C. GAUR is the Librarian and Head of the Kala Nidhi Division at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). He has won many awards for his pioneering work in Indian libraries.

RANJIT LAL is a popular writer and a keen ornithologist. He has written fiction and non-fiction for both adults and children.

ROBERT SABUDA is the creator of intricate and magical pop-up books. He appears regularly on television to share his enthusiasm for creativity, art and books with children.

ROOPA PAI is an award-winning author of children’s books and writes stories, poems, comic strips and a popular history column for children.

RUSKIN BOND’s wise and humorous books are like good friends for children. He won his first award at the age of 17.

SACHIN GEORGE SEBASTIAN is an alumni of the National Institute of Design and a self taught paper engineer.

SAMIT BASU writes novels, short stories, comics and screenplays. He wrote the first trilogy of fantasy novels in India. His latest novel introduces a new superhero.

SARAH PRINEAS has a PhD in English literature and lives in Iowa. She has written an acclaimed fantasy trilogy that is on many state reading lists for teenagers.

SHIRSHENDU MUKHOPADHYAY is a popular Bengali novelist who received the Vidyasagar Award for his contribution to children’s literature. He has also received the Ananda Purashkar and the Sahitya Akademi awards.

SHWETA MOHAPATRA is an illustrator and designer. A graduate of the National Institute of Design, she runs her design studio in Delhi.

SONJA CHANDRACHUD brews fantasy tales filled with magic, mayhem and mischief. Her stories take readers into the past with cryptic curses and lost treasures.

STEPHEN MARAZZI and The LEARNING STAGE are a storytelling team who works with children to create stage productions for schools.

SUBHADRA SEN GUPTA writes on history, travel and mythology. She enjoys making the past come alive through her historical fiction and also writing mysteries and comic books.

SWATI SODHI’s creative workshops use storytelling, crafts, quizzes, word games, theatre, music and dance to introduce children to books and reading.

TULTUL BISWAS studied chemistry, taught at primary school before going back to her love for books. She oversees the publishing programme of Eklavya.

VALENTINA TRIVEDI has been a film-maker, screenwriter, copywriter and teacher of English. She is also a trained singer.

WENDY COOLING has been involved in a range of projects to promote reading not only in the UK but worldwide. A true Book Dabbler!

WENDY ORR lives in the Australian bush and has written award winning books, one of which was made into a Hollywood feature film.

BOOKART 10

ATANU ROY illustrates and designs picture books, magazines and educational aids. His forte is changing his styles and adding a whacky humour to the narrative.

BINDIA THAPAR is an architect by training and illustrator by choice. She has designed and illustrated a wide variety of books and is best known for her drawings for children.

JAGDISH JOSHI is a doyen of the world of illustration for children’s books. A graduate of the Art College, Kolkata he worked for the Children’s Book Trust. He has won the Noma Concourse award of Japan.

NEETA GANGOPADHYA is a graduate of the College of Art, Delhi. Her work has been shown at the Biennnale of Illustrations, Bratislava and her work was part of an anthology nominated for an IBBY Honour List

SUBIR ROY has contributed to several children’s publications in India and abroad and works at the Children’s Book Trust. He got a special jury mention in the Bienniale of Illustrations at Bratislava.

SUDDHASATTWA BASU is a painter, illustrator and animation filmmaker who created the first Indian animated serial for television. He has won the Chitra Katha award and honourable mention at the Biennale of Illustrations, Bratislava.

SUJASHA DASGUPTA is a graduate of the College of Art, Delhi and works in different mediums. She participated in the Illustrator’s Workshop at the Biennale of Illustrations, Bratislava.

SUJATA SINGH studied Illustration and Graphic Design at the Wimbledon School of Art & Design, London. She illustrates and designs books and has also held exhibitions of her paintings.

TAPAS GUHA enjoys the lively art of comic books and his forte is enhancing a narrative by adding colour and movement. He is known for his meticulous illustrations for historical stories.

TAPOSHI GHOSHAL is a graduate from the College of Art, Delhi and works as an illustrator and designer. She has held a solo exhibition of her illustrations.

VANDANA BIST who graduated from the College of Art, Delhi, writes and illustrates books. She was won the Noma award from Japan and the Katha award.

VIKY ARYA is a poet, sculptor, author and illustrator of children’s books. An advertising professional, she has done numerous award winning media campaigns.