Boutique Publishers… Bold Stories: Shaping Tomorrow’s Readers

To understand how children’s publishing in India is evolving, Smita Dwivedi interacts with those at the forefront of this shift.The conversations includes Shailaja Srinivasan, Editor at Eklavya Foundation (with additional inputs from Seema and Shivnarayan Gaur); Reetanshu Singhal, Director of XACT Books and Wise Eagle Books; Sushil Gupta, Director, and Neelam Gupta, Creative Director at Sunrise Publishers; and Priyanka Agarwal Mehta, Founder of Sam & Mi. Their views reflect the fresh energy, inclusive thinking, and strong purpose now shaping children’s books in India.

Eklavya Foundation: pioneering inclusive and multilingual children’s publishing in India

In the heart of India’s alternative education movement lies Eklavya Foundation, a publishing house known for its commitment to equity, creativity, and multilingual inclusion. Since starting its publication programme in 1996, Eklavya has created meaningful, thoughtful, and often radically inclusive children’s literature, standing apart from mainstream formulaic and commercial content.

“Eklavya’s publishing arm began out of necessity, when suitable educational material couldn’t be found for our field programmes, we created it ourselves. Today, our catalogue features over 500 titles across languages including Hindi, English, Marathi, Gujarati, Bangla, Kannada, Assamese, Gondi, Mundari, and Mising. Our Hindi magazines, Chakmak, Sandarbh, and Srote are widely read and respected. But what truly sets us apart is our commitment to publishing works created by children themselves. Every child’s voice is nurtured, not moulded, so that young readers learn to value their own perspectives and unique modes of expression,” shares Shailaja.

Courageous storytelling across formats

Eklavya publishes fiction, non-fiction, picture books, chapter books, and experimental formats such as accordion and big books. Their audience ranges from toddlers to young adults, including parents, educators, and teacher-trainers. The editorial vision is defined by courage. Eklavya addresses gaps often ignored by mainstream publishers, covering themes such as friendship, love, gender diversity, and real-life challenges children face, subjects often deemed inappropriate for young readers.

“We fearlessly fill the gaps mainstream publishers avoid—offering fiction, non-fiction, picture books, experimental formats, and stories about friendship, gender, love, and real-life challenges for readers from toddlers to young adults,” she adds.

Navigating the reader-purchaser divide

“We see, a significant disconnect between children as readers and parents as purchasers. Children rarely buy their own books, and parents tend to select books based on their preferences rather than the child’s natural interests,” she shares. To bridge this gap, Eklavya actively engages with parents and teachers, advocating for child-led reading and storytelling that is open-ended and exploratory.

Championing linguistic diversity and access

While many publishers focus primarily on English and Hindi, Eklavya champions regional and non-scheduled languages. Publishing in around a dozen languages, including Mising and Gondi, enables Eklavya to reach remote and tribal communities across India.

“This multilingual approach aligns with India’s long-term goal of providing primary education in children’s mother tongues, helping to bridge educational divides and foster community connections,” she concludes.

Wise Eagle: Soaring beyond borders with children’s books from India

Since its inception in 2019, Wise Eagle has emerged as one of India’s dynamic new forces in children’s publishing. At its core, Wise Eagle is guided by a simple yet powerful ambition “To bring deeply rooted Indian stories—and universal childhood experiences—to readers around the world.”

A Wide Editorial Range for Growing Minds

Wise Eagle’s publishing list spans the entire children’s books spectrum, catering to readers from birth through early teens. “Our list includes everything from board books and novelty formats to mass-market fiction for children aged 0–14. And right now, our teenage books are gaining real momentum globally,” Reetanshu adds.

The essence of independent publishing

In a country where independent publishing is flourishing, Wise Eagle embraces the spirit of being self-made. “To us, an independent publisher is one that builds its own path, tells stories rooted in their culture, and shares them with the world, without waiting for traditional validations,” he explains.Their work reflects a passion for storytelling that is culturally resonant, globally relevant, and driven by creative freedom.

Filling gaps with innovation and variety

Sharing about distinctive contributions to the Indian publishing scene,he says, “Recognising the growing demand among Indian parents and educators for interactive and innovative books, the publisher is actively investing in this space.Our aim is to offer more variety in children’s formats, especially board and novelty books, because we believe Indian readers deserve the same richness and quality seen in international markets.”

Navigating challenges in a crowded market

Like many independent publishers, Wise Eagle is no stranger to the competitive pressures of the market. One of the biggest hurdles, they note, is the dominance of low-cost, lower-quality titles that gain visibility due to aggressive marketing on e-commerce platforms.

“It can be frustrating,” he admits. “We often see simple and less enriching books outperforming thoughtful content, purely because large players can push their titles through paid placements online. That kind of exposure often overshadows good books from smaller publishers,” he further highlights.

Tapping into new opportunities

Despite the challenges, one positive trend Wise Eagle notes is the growing visibility of regional language publishing.“Today, publishing isn’t limited to English and Hindi or just metro cities. We’re seeing brilliant work in regional languages, too,” he shares, citing organisations like the Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation (TNTB) as examples of how regional efforts can go global.

The power of translations and global recognition

Translations have played a key role in Wise Eagle’s growth, allowing them to take their stories to readers across linguistic and cultural boundaries. While they don’t measure success only through awards, Wise Eagle has found a different form of validation: sustained international demand. “We consider regular reprint orders across global markets as the true markers of success. Over 100 of our titles are in continuous reprint in multiple languages—and that tells us we’re on the right path,” he shares with pride.

Taking India’s stories to the book fairs

Global book fairs and rights events are a cornerstone of Wise Eagle’s strategy. The team attends nearly 15 such international events every year, including exhibitions and conferences across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. “These platforms are essential. They help us build relationships, understand trends, and promote rights sales. It’s also how we stay plugged into the global publishing conversation,” he emphasizes on a concluding note.

Sunrise Publishers: empowering young minds with quality education and stories

Established in 2000 and headquartered in New Delhi, Sunrise Publishers has grown into one of India’s foremost publishers of school and children’s books. With a legacy spanning over two decades, the company has expanded organically and through strategic acquisitions to meet diverse educational needs across India and around the world.

A vision rooted in quality education

“From the beginning, our goal was clear. We wanted to deliver quality education through books that truly make a difference,” says Sushil, outlining the founding vision of the company. Sunrise specialises in creating a wide array of educational materials, including textbooks for pre-primary, primary, and middle school levels, with a strong focus on the K–12 segment.

Global reach and customised curriculum support

In addition to serving the Indian market, their international presence has grown also steadily, exporting books to nearly 35 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Philippines, South Africa, Pakistan, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Kenya.

“Sunrise works closely with Ministries of Education in African nations such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Cameroon, and South Africa to develop customised, curriculum-based textbooks. We encourage holistic skill development and emotional literacy. We take pride in creating content that speaks to children in meaningful ways, both academically and emotionally,” adds Neelam.

Publishing for every stage of learning

From toddlers to young adults, Sunrise’s books cater to a wide audience. The company also supports parents, educators, and teacher-trainers, offering resources that strengthen classroom engagement and at-home learning. “What sets us apart is our ability to maintain affordability without compromising on quality,”notes Sushil.

International collaborations and language reach

Sunrise’s international collaborations extend to co-editions and translations, including working with Filipino publishers to produce titles in Tagalog and partnering with Malaysian government-approved translation companies to publish in Malay.

“These partnerships have allowed Sunrise to meet the needs of diverse readers and education systems. It also ensures culturally relevant content reaches a wide audience in multiple languages,” shares Neelam.

Industry insights and market challenges

Recognizing India’s price-sensitive market, Sunrise believes boutique and local publishers have significant opportunities to grow, especially with emerging publishing hubs in cities like Kanpur, Mathura, Prayagraj, and Bengal.

However, they also note challenges such as the closure of bookstores despite the increase in schools, signaling a need for innovative approaches to engage children with books. “Post-pandemic shifts toward digital devices have changed reading habits, but we advocate for balancing technology with the tactile and immersive experience of physical books,” adds Sushil.

Promotional strategies and the road ahead

To stay connected with readers, Sunrise employs a variety of promotional strategies, from digital marketing campaigns and community engagement to collaborations with local distributors and active participation in international book fairs.

“Books still have the power to transform lives. And we’ll continue doing everything we can to ensure children everywhere have access to books that educate, inspire, and empower,” concludes Sushil.

Sam and Mi: A publishing house where childhood leads the way

Sam and Mi journey began with a deep love for reading and an equally strong love for children. What started as a personal project to fill a gap in the kind of books the founder wanted for her own children soon turned into a movement supported by parents, educators, and learning specialists. “I couldn’t find books that taught empathy, communication, and problem-solving in a fun, engaging way, so I began writing them. The early books were made just for friends and family. But I got overwhelmingly positive response from schools and child development professionals. This gave us the confidence to launch ‘Sam and Mi’ as a publishing house,” Priyanka shares.

Publishing with a purpose

In a country like India, where more than 15,000 independent publishing houses are estimated to exist, they embrace the essence of boutique publishing: building a curated, deeply meaningful catalogue. According to her, “The boutique publishing is less about scale and more about intent. It allows for the freedom to create a distinctive body of work rooted in a clear philosophy.”

The house also fills an important gap in Indian children’s literature, high-quality, research-based picture books that support not only academic but also emotional and cognitive development.

Challenges and opportunities in the Indie space

Running an independent publishing house comes with its challenges. Sam and Mi prioritises quality and innovation over volume, something that’s not always easy in a market dominated by large players. “We can’t produce the quantity that bigger houses do, but we can create books that are thoughtful and original. Another challenge is finding production partners who are willing to work collaboratively on new formats and ideas, a must for a publisher so focused on learning outcomes and developmental design. Yet, the future looks bright. “Reading is becoming fashionable again,” she observes.

Building visibility beyond the mainstream

For many niche publishers, visibility and distribution are ongoing concerns. But for them, the key lies in storytelling beyond the books themselves. By speaking directly to parents, about empathy, milestones, learning gaps, and the importance of connection, the brand builds awareness around the deeper value its books bring. “Most parents want more for their children than they had. When they understand the impact of these skills, they’re eager to support our books,” she shares.

Language, recognition, and global reach

While the publishing house has only just started exploring regional language translations, with a few titles available in Gujarati—the potential is clear. Expanding into India’s diverse linguistic landscape could bring the books to many more homes across the country.

“Our deepest aspiration is to be recognised not just as a publisher, but as a brand that truly belongs to children, one that understands their world, honours their voices, and creates books with their needs and dreams at heart. This clear and heartfelt mission shapes every story we bring to life, helps every choice we make, and fuels our passion to keep growing, innovating, and dreaming for a future where every child feels seen, valued, and inspired,” she concludes.