Mother of Readers was an idea born (as all good ideas were) in 2020, during the endless days of COVID-19. Children were forced to stay indoors, and parents began reaching out to me more frequently to find the right books to help pry their kids away from screens and gently nudge them towards reading. 

I decided to hop onto the Instagram bandwagon, and if you are a Game of Thrones aficionado like I am, you know where the name comes from. I started reviewing books my children enjoyed reading  — both fiction and non-fiction, but I began to fall in love with books created by Indian authors and illustrators. I grew up on a steady diet of Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl, lost in a world where tea and scones were shared at picnics beneath trees. Where homes had larders and ‘lashings of ginger beer’ was a common drink when young children came together to play. None of that was ever part of my childhood, and that led me to believe my childhood wasn’t as magical as those in the books I grew up reading.

I believe wholeheartedly that children need to see themselves in the books they read. When books become mirrors, young readers are invested in the story and tend to finish the book they started. Our children need to believe their school tiffin dabba is not inferior to a school cafeteria meal or that the corner kirana is on par with corner shops and bodegas. The books being produced by Indian authors and illustrators are on par with some of the best internationally, so why are we, Indians, shying away from reading them? That mindset had to change. Research showed me parents were unaware of the books being produced in India, therefore choosing to buy books they were already familiar with.

Mother of Readers became a platform that champions Indian children’s literature. Through articles, podcasts, and social media, I read, review, and recommend books that we love spending time with. It has been a fulfilling journey filled with stories and humbling lessons. A place to combine my love for children’s books, my flair for the dramatic, and my hope to raise curious readers. The more I read, the stronger my resolve to champion Indian kidlit. A bonus is the amazing creators I meet along the way!

So drop in, now and again, for a new book recommendation or for some interesting book talk.

Let’s read together and let’s raise readers!