Lighting up India's timeless stories
Lotus Lantern Tales publishes beautifully illustrated books of India's myths, legends and history, for families in India and for the Indian diaspora around the world.
Old stories, lit for today
India's stories are among the oldest and greatest in the world. Many children, in Mumbai or Melbourne, London or Los Angeles, grow up hearing only fragments of them.
We retell them in full, with warm illustrations and clear, careful writing, so that a child who has never heard of Arjuna or Ashoka can fall in love with them, and a grandparent can share them with pride.
Two lanterns, one light
Manthan Tales
Big stories for little readers: picture books, activity books, flipbooks and games for ages 5 and up.
Visit Manthan Tales
Lotus Lantern Tales
Retellings and illustrated histories for teens and adults, for readers who want the whole story.
Hear about it firstCollections
Every collection is researched, illustrated and written for readers who are meeting these stories for the first time.
Available nowThe Complete Mahabharata
11 illustrated books
The whole of India's great epic, from the river goddess to the last journey, retold for readers of all ages.
Explore the seriesThe Ramayana
Illustrated series
Rama, Sita, Hanuman and the long road home to Ayodhya.
Panchatantra & Jataka Tales
Fables for little ones
Clever animals and wise lessons, the world's oldest bedtime stories.
Heroes of Indian History
True stories
Kings, queens, scientists and freedom fighters who shaped India.
For families everywhere
Whether you live in India or far away, our books give children a joyful way into their heritage, in English that every child can read, with Sanskrit words gently explained.
Every book comes with free extras: colouring pages, puzzles, puppets, maps and a reading passport.
See the free activities