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- 40 Must-Read Books For 10-12 Year-Old Children
40 Must-Read Books For 10-12 Year-Old Children
Books have always been a handy time machine, taking us back and forth through the past, present, and future. A timeless source of joy, developing the habit of reading early has other benefits as well. Children who take to reading at an early age will be better-informed with a more firm grasp on grammar and vocabulary, increased fluency and attention spans, not to mention an overall sense of ease with the language.
Have a look at our specially-curated list of 40 books for children between the ages of 10 and 12, which includes Stories Of Courage And Valour, books on finding your Future Friend, and those that take you Inside India!
Stories Of Courage & Valour by Soundar Chitra
From popular Indian legends to tales from across the world, these are stories about extraordinary young men and women who fought for what they believed in, whether it was love, loyalty or fairness.
The Mystery Of The School On Fire: The SMS Detective Agency Series by Ravi Subramaniam
In this first mystery in the newly-launched SMS Detective Agency series by master storyteller and writer of bestselling thrillers, Ravi Subramanian, the SMS gang solves the perplexing case of how and why their school catches fire, not once but twice!
The M Series: Monster Tales by Cornelia Funke
A furry red monster called Ruffleclaw moves in with a family of humans after he tires of eating bugs and living under the tool-shed! Read this charming monster tale from Cornelia Funke, the internationally renowned children’s author of the Inkheart trilogy and several other bestselling books and series.
The Adventures Of Padma and a Blue Dinosaur by Vaishali Shroff
In an exciting mix of non-fiction and fiction, this book contains curious facts and insights about dinosaurs discovered in India, including a colourful map of India indicating where dinosaurs have been discovered and illustrated fact sheets about them, inputs from renowned palaeontologists, and an interview with the Dinosaur Princess of India, Aaliya Sultana Babi.
As we rocket into space on the back of several successful missions, India In Space examines India’s glorious space trajectory starting from its first venture. Pick up this book, the first in a series that will present India’s place in various spheres such as sports, science, history and more, to explore India’s incredible journey into space!
Sriman Badbu by David Walliams
David Walliams’ much-loved middle-grade novel, Mr Stink, now in Hindi. Come, join Chloe and Shriman Badbu on their adventures! When it looks like he might be driven out of town, Chloe decides to hide Mr Stink in the garden shed. Now Chloe’s got to make sure no one finds out her secret. And speaking of secrets, there just might be more to Mr Stink than meets the eye… or the nose.
Sacked by Deepa Agarwal
A charming collection of folktales, retold in a lively, contemporary style by Deepa Agarwal. There’s humour, adventure and amazing flights of fantasy in these stories, and the quirky illustrations just add to the charm!
A wonderful collection of poems and songs for children in Hindi from Gulzar, the master poet and storyteller.
Dabbang Dadi by David Walliams
David Walliams’ hilarious Gangsta Granny is here in translation! If young Ben had known that his grandma had plotted to steal the Crown Jewels all her life – that she was a Dabang Dadi – he wouldn’t have thought she was the most boring grandma ever.
Future Friend by David Baddiel
Future Friend is a terrifically entertaining time-slip adventure that combines action, laugh-out-loud humour and the importance of friendship, in a story that asks the question – what would happen if your best friend came from the future?
Goal! Shot! Run!: Short Biographies Of Sportspersons
Goal, Shot, Run! is a collection of illustrated biographies of sportspeople from all over the world. From cricket to hockey, tennis to football and even the Olympics, it’s time to learn more about your favourite sports superstars, and maybe even discover some new ones!
The M Series: Magical Tales by Shashi Warrier
Many years ago, the Lord of All Magic, fed up with the intrusion of humans into the lives of magical beings, withdrew to a continent in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that he hid, by magical means, from the sight of all humans outside. As the two tales from the hidden continent show, life with magical creatures can never be dull…
Inside India: Festivals & Celebrations by FunOKPlease
Join Indy and Dia on a mad, intelligent and fun tour of India’s popular, curious and bewildering festivals and celebrations. This activity book will help you navigate India’s colourful festival calendar through engaging activities like word searches, crossword puzzles, number games, recipes, art and craft and much more.
A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth by Francesca Gibbons
With all the magic of Narnia and the humour of Mary Poppins, this is a future middle grade fantasy classic – and the beginning of an unforgettable journey…Thrilling, sharply funny, and with characters you will fall in love with, A Clock of Stars is a timeless fantasy from an astonishing new voice.
Inside India: Amazing Historical Places by FunOKPlease
The second in the Inside India series, join Indy and Dia on a super exciting and fun tour of India’s amazing historical places and discover unknown details about the famous monuments and sites you’ve already heard of. This activity book will help you navigate India’s rich and mind-boggling map of historical wonders through engaging activities.
Inside India: Fascinating Food by FunOKPlease
Fascinating Food is the third book in the Inside India series. Join Indy and Dia on a mouth-watering, tummy-rumbling and fun tour of India’s culinary landscape. This activity book will take you through India’s various food delights through engaging activities.
Mensa Train Your Brain: Cranium Crunchers by Mensa
The book contains 96 puzzle-packed pages. It is split into three levels of difficulty, called Super Brain, Mega Mind and Ultra Genius. The levels get considerably harder as the book progresses and as kids improve their puzzle skills, and all answers can be found at the back of it.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Don’t miss one of America’s top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS’s The Great American Read. A full-color paperback edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, book two in the classic fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. This edition is complete with full-color cover and interior art by the original illustrator, Pauline Baynes.
Mensa Train Your Brain: Brain-Scrambling Challenges by Mensa
The book contains a wide variety of different types of challenges, including numerical, logical and word puzzles, that will test all areas of puzzle solving. The best part? All answers to the tests can be found at the back of the book!
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Inspired by a true story, this is the beautifully written tale of how a mighty gorilla wins his freedom. A winning blend of humour and poignancy that will appeal to fans of Michael Morpurgo.
Mensa Train Your Brain: Perplexing Puzzles by Mensa
In another edition of the Mensa Train Your Brain series, kids will have fun putting their brain to the test and seeing how many puzzles they can work out correctly. As the cherry on top, the answers to all the puzzles are provided at the book of the book!
Gangsta Granny by David Walliams
Another hilarious and moving novel from bestselling, critically acclaimed author David Walliams, the natural successor to Roald Dahl. A story of prejudice and acceptance, funny lists and silly words, this new book has all the hallmarks of David’s previous bestsellers. Enjoy the original, if you’ve tried the Hindi!
Mensa Train Your Brain: Mind-Melting Conundrums by Mensa
This book is full of marvellous, mind-melting puzzles for kids to enjoy. A true puzzler’s paradise, the book contains 96 pages of puzzles. It is split into three levels of difficulty – Level A is Super Brain, Level B is Mega Mind and Level C is Ultra Genius. The different types of puzzles included will test a wide range of puzzle solving skills.
Quirky History: The Swan Car of Nabha & Other Unusual Storiesfrom History by Mini Menon
Eccentric maharajas and nawabs, bizarre believe it or not tales and hilarious twists and turns come together in this first book of the Quirky History series. From the Nizam who hid a priceless diamond in a shoe to the Swan Car of the Maharaja of Nabha, get ready for history to pop right out of this book!
Raja Balushahi and Rani Rasmalai in Mithaspur and Other Adventures by Prashant Pinge
A thrilling adventure of two young siblings, eleven-year-old Arjun and nine-year-old Anindita, that will immerse you into a world of fantasy. Filled with captivating magic and unexpected dangers, this beautifully illustrated book comes with a pull-out board game!
She Can, You Can by Garima Kushwaha
An A to Z biography of iconic Indian women, one for each letter of the English alphabet. Each character is represented by an illustrative sketch and a 500-word summary. This inspirational and motivational book includes the achievements of pioneering females from different walks of life.
The Adventures of Kakababu by Sunil Gangopadhyay
A thrilling story about young Shontu who joins his uncle Raja Roychowdhury, fondly known as Kakababu, on his adventures and the dangers they have to subsequently overcome. The Adventures of Kakababu, Volume 1, is the first in the new Kakababu series.
Learned Men and Women by Sreelata Menon
Discover the lives of the great learned men and women of ancient India who could control their minds to achieve anything they desired. From pioneering surgical techniques to solving mathematical puzzles, read about the incredible contributions of Vyasa, Sushruta, Valmiki, Surya Savitri, Chanakya, and others.
How to be a Writer by Ruskin Bond
This book is an exclusive glimpse into the writing credo of Ruskin Bond, an author who has had an incredibly successful writing career spanning over seventy years, in his characteristic understated, tongue-in-cheek, humorous style.
The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mohandas Gandhi
An abridged and simplified version of Gandhiji’s Autobiography and his Satyagraha in South Africa, specially prepared by Bharatan Kumarappa. Matters which are not likely to be of much interest to school children have been omitted, and the language has been simplified where possible.
Mahabharata Stories by Deepa Agarwal
Selected stories for children from the Mahabharata ranging from how the Mahabharata was written to the Mritasanjivani story, the birth of Devavrata, the palace of Lac, Draupadi’s Swayamvara, the passing of Bhishma and many others from one of the greatest epics of all time.
Uncool: Fights. Camera. Action!
Uncool is an incredible graphic novel that is centred around young DD and her high school life. The first book of the bitingly funny UNCOOL series – a rib-tickling tackling of teen issues!
A Basketful Of Animal Tales: Stories From The Panchatantra
Foolish fish and clever crows, quick-witted monkeys and dim-witted lions and many more – pit your wits against them in this feast of animal stories! The Panchatantra stories are ancient yet so contemporary that they have been retold again and again through the ages. They remain as modern as any new story today.
Flipped: Funny Stories / Scary Stories
The Flipped Anthology series gives you two themes, two covers and two sides to open the book from… and you get to choose! Switch between our rib-tickling and spine-chilling stories as you please.
The Gita and You by Sheila Dhir
This book presents eight Kathas that capture the essence of the conversation that took place between Lord Krishna and Arjuna during the Kurukshetra War. The message of each of these Kathas is simplified and conveyed through stories that children can relate to and understand.
Festival Stories: Through The Year by Rachna Chhabria
India is a country of myriad festivals! Not a month goes by in which we don’t have something to celebrate. This book invites you to rejoice in India’s rich culture through the simple stories of two young twins, Natasha and Nikhil, as they experience an entire year of festivals and celebrations!
Flipped: Ghost Stories / Adventure Stories
Now you don’t need to keep a book away if you don’t like a story or a theme, you only need to flip the book over and start reading again! Switch between our blood-curdling and adventuresome stories as you please.
The 1,000-Year-Old Boy by Ross Welford
The astonishing, beautiful new story for all readers of 10 and over from the bestselling and Costa-shortlisted author of Time Travelling with a Hamster.
Flipped: School Stories / Sports Stories
Now you don’t need to keep a book away if you don’t like a story or a theme, you only need to flip the book over and start reading again! The third book in the Flipped series is a collection of Sports and School stories.
The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
Return to the unforgettable world of the Newbery Medal-winning and New York Times bestselling novel The One and Only Ivan in this incredible sequel, starring Ivan’s friend Bob. Catch up with these beloved friends before watching the star-studded film adaptation!
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