We don’t have enough stories that speak to children from diverse cultural backgrounds

Writer Anuradha argues that Nepal needs stories featuring illustrations of kids who look like them, the places they belong to, the names they recognise and plots they can call their own.

Anuradha , a creative writer, editor and translator based in Kathmandu, believes in the power of children’s literature for development. She has penned over 30 picture books and acclaimed chapter books like ‘Mero Kathako Alien’ and ‘Yeti Bhetne Keti’, dedicating her career to writing for children. Her international acclaim includes ‘The Story of Babur: Prince , ‘Emperor, Sage’ (2022), which is translated into eight languages, was listed in The Guardian’s best new picture books and novels in 2022, and was long-listed for the 2023 Young Quills Award. She is a lifelong member of the Nepalese Society for Children’s Literature (NESCHIL).