Children's author · educator · speaker
Santhini Govindan
Award-winning author of more than 50 books for children — picture books, short stories, historical fiction, and poetry — published across India and translated into a dozen languages. Her books are used as readers at schools across India and many of her original poems are taught in schools across India, South East Asia, and the Middle East.
50+
books
300+
stories & features
12+
languages
30+
years
Published works
Selected books
A small selection from more than 50 titles published since 1992.

Chotu Finds a Home
HalfBakedBeans
2022

The Pond that Shyam Lal Dug
Ukiyoto Publishing
2023

The Playful Wind
Children's Book Trust, New Delhi
2016

नटखट पवन
Children's Book Trust, New Delhi
2018

Hiding
Children's Book Trust, New Delhi
2018

A Gift From Miu
Children's Book Trust, New Delhi
2015

The Anger of Apsu
Children's Book Trust, New Delhi
2012

Counting Clouds
Children's Book Trust, New Delhi
2005
About
Santhini Govindan
Santhini Govindan is a widely published, award-winning author of children's literature in English. She has written more than 50 books for children, including poetry, picture books, chapter books, and short stories for readers of all ages.
Her publishers include National Book Trust (India), Children's Book Trust, HarperCollins India, Scholastic India, India Book House, Pustak Mahal, Vikas Publishing House, and Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
Her books have been translated into many Indian languages, and more than 300 stories and features have appeared in children's magazines and national dailies in India and overseas.
She received a Junior Fellowship in Literature from the Government of India in 1996 to write historical fiction for children, followed by a Senior Fellowship in Literature in 1998 for research on children's literature in English in India.
In July 2001, she became the first Indian writer invited to the annual Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop in Chautauqua, New York.
Her books are used as readers at schools across India. She has also conducted creative writing workshops in schools across Mumbai and taught creative writing at the undergraduate level at Mumbai University.
Family







News
Recent events & publications
May 2025
Children's Book Trust feature for The Anger of Apsu
The English and Hindi versions of The Anger of Apsu were featured on the Children’s Book Trust Instagram page on May 15–16, 2025.
October 2024
Mumbai launch of Hug Yourself
Title Waves, Bandra, Mumbai
Launch event for Hug Yourself: Body Positivity and Empowerment Stories for Teenagers, with discussion, audience participation, and author readings.
July 2024
Our Chikoo Tree on SeasonWatch
A personal piece for SeasonWatch about a gracious fruit tree that has been part of the family home for decades.
Read more →For schools & institutions
Workshops & author visits
Creative writing workshops, author visits, curriculum development, and educator training — available for schools, literary festivals, and academic institutions.