Get children hooked to reading with these curated book boxes, hampers in 2023

Worlds Around Us gift box with illustrated cards

Stories and hot chocolate

The Oh, Calcutta box. PICS COURTESY/CHAMPACA BOOKSTORE

Acquaint little thinkers to climate consciousness with Champaca Bookstore's Worlds Around Us. The package contains Naturalist Ruddy - a comic book that invites readers to solve nature-related crimes; 10 Indian Champions Who are Fighting to Save the Planet; a zero-waste card deck with fun facts and illustrations; and a hot chocolate mix to keep readers warm. The platform stocks picks for our love for cities and niche interests, too.
Age group: Nine years and above
Log on to: champaca.in
Cost: Rs 1,499 onwards

The magic lies inside

Do you know a kid whose eyes light up when reality blends with fiction? We reckon that's every child. The Big Book Box is a limited-edition assembly that brings delight with six illustrated books, colourful stationery, activity sheets, a recipe card, a board game, a felt bunting, and more.

The Big Book Box contains books, pebbles, postcards and more. PICS COURTESY/TULIKA BOOKS

Apart from books such as Appaka, Jokhu and the Big Scare, We Are the Dancing Forest and Many Colours of Us, the case also carries player pebbles and a pack of yarn.
Age group: Four to eight-year-olds
Log on to: tulikabooks.com
Cost: Rs 2,500

It's pouring books

The toddler box includes word cards. PIC COURTESY/KOOL SKOOL

The intrigue in having one story delivered at a time hits readers differently. Send Me A Story - an offering by the Gurugram-based bookshop, Kool Skool - allows you to subscribe for books for toddlers, tweens and young adults. Fill up a form listing out the intended recipient's favourite themes and characters, and wait for them to be surprised.
Age group: Zero to five-year-olds; there are subscription boxes for middle-graders, teens, young adults and adults.
Log on to: koolskoolbookstore.com
Cost: Rs 1,999

Hear them narrate

PIC COURTESY/ INSTAGRAM

Gifting kids a value pack from Karadi Tales not only leaves them with the imprint of vivid words and illustrations, but also the voices of Naseeruddin Shah, Saeed Jaffrey, Javed Jaffrey, Rahul Dravid and Girish Karnad. These packs are worth collecting. The special curation for tweens contains 13 books and 13 audiobooks. There are texts such as Thukpa for All, The Insect Boy, Cat's Egg and The Tale of Babban Hajjam, alongside narrated classics like The Monkeys and the Capseller, Crickematics! and Just One Paisa.
Age group: Seven to nine-year-olds
Log on to: karaditales.com
Cost: Rs 9,211

A hug from India

Planning to surprise your godchild, niece or nephew - who lives in another country - with a slice of Indian heritage? The Toka Peanut, Toka Junior and Toka Explorer boxes include books by Subcontinental authors and illustrators, along with activities that lend a sense of presence amid the setting of the story.
Age group: Three to five years; six to eight years
Log on to: tokabox.com
Cost: One box plan at $32.99 per month; discounts available for three and six-box plans