This time, we will introduce handmade picture books from India that are one of a kind in the world.

 

Tara Books is a small publishing house based in Chennai, South India.
Based on the belief of "providing quality books for the people of India," we publish picture books, art books, and books on social and political themes.

His representative work, "The Night Tree," which is completed entirely by hand, from printing on handmade paper to binding, won the New Horizons category of the Bologna Children's Book Award in 2008, which is given to children's books with outstanding graphic design and book design, and has received high praise internationally.

 

About 10 Japanese translations have been published so far, and the Tara Books exhibition held at the Itabashi Museum of Art in 2017 attracted many visitors.

These beautiful books, like works of art, printed one by one by artisans, continue to fascinate people all over the world, including us Japanese fans.

 

Tara Books' handmade picture books not only feature graphic, colorful prints by traditional Indian folk artists, but one of their charms is that the color of the cover art changes with each edition.
For example, the background of "The Beginning of the World" was green in the second printing, but changed to red in the third printing.

 

 

It's so much fun to watch the fish swimming in the clear, natural stream jump out into the ocean and drift along.

 

The color of the tree in "Night Tree" also changes with each printing, allowing you to imagine various stories.
One of the joys of Tara Books is buying all the different picture books with different expressions each time they are reprinted.

 

In addition, the process of binding Tara Books is also attracting attention as an activity to create a better society through books.
They contract with unknown, non-professional artists and pay them royalties, and the artisans in their printing and bookbinding workshops live and work together with them, acquiring skills and receiving language training, thereby increasing employment in the local area and providing a stable work system.
Tara Books books are books that you can feel the passion and roots of the author in the finished product.

The feel of the paper and prints, and the smell of the ink allow you to experience the joy of encountering a book with all five senses, and an editioned copy will make you want to cherish it.
 

DAIKANYAMA TSUTAYA BOOKS sells handmade picture book series such as "The Night Tree," which is based on Indian mythology, and the English version of "Aquatic Creatures," which depicts various aquatic creatures, as well as valuable "Aquatic Creatures" art prints (limited quantity).

 

The products introduced this time can be purchased at the online store.

Why not take a close look at the fine lines that are unique to prints?

 

 

 

Kids Concierge

Yuki Ishiyama