Children's books in Marathi (and translated from Marathi)
Books available in Marathi, or translated from it, for young readers. Many come in several Indian languages at once; check the language line on each book.
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Rooster Raga
Ages 4–7Indian author
A rooster who sings only carnatic ragas causes chaos in his village — until his unique voice wins everyone over. A funny, musical picture book, published in English and several Indian languages.
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Faster Fene (Series)
by B.R. Bhagwat
Ages 9–14Indian author
The iconic Marathi detective-adventure series starring Banesh 'Faster' Fene — a streetwise, quick-witted boy who solves mysteries across Maharashtra. An enduring classic that has captivated Marathi children for over 70 years.
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Shyamchi Aai
by Sane Guruji
Ages 12–15Indian author
Sane Guruji's timeless masterpiece in which Shyam recalls his gentle, self-sacrificing mother and her quiet life lessons. One of the most beloved books in Marathi literature — a moving portrait of mother-child love.
Heads-up: Death & grief
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Thakitta Tharikitta Bouncing Ball
by Jacob Samson Muttada
Ages 3–6Indian author
Abu's big red ball bounces to the beat of dance syllables — thakitta tharikitta! A rhythmic read-aloud that brings the sounds of Indian dance to little ones. Illustrated by Ashok Rajagopalan.
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The Musical Donkey (Paadum Kazhuthai)
by Niveditha Subramaniam
Ages 2–5Indian author
A donkey who loves to sing — even if nobody else loves hearing him! A cheerful, funny board-style picture book for the youngest readers, available in bilingual editions including English–Tamil (Paadum Kazhuthai).
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Junior Kumbhakarna
Ages 4–8Indian author
Every night Kukku asks his father for the story of Kumbhakarna, the giant who sleeps for six months at a stretch, and every night he dozes off at the same moment the giant does. In his dream, everyone tries everything to wake the giant up. A wildly funny retelling of an episode from the Ramayana, illustrated by Shreya Sen.
