Hello, I’m Chitra Soundar.

Chitra Soundar wearing a red patterned shirt and glasses.

I’m a writer, poet, author and storyteller. I write children’s books, TV and theatre. I also dabble in short stories and comedy writing for adults.

My Many Hats

  • I write for children across age-groups and across genre. I’ve published over 60 books for children and my books are published across UK, US, India and across many other territories.

    Get in touch with my literary agent, ASH Literary to commission work.

  • I visit schools, libraries and literary festivals to tell stories, run storytelling and writing workshops for children across all ages. My events are interactive and engaging and inspire young people to get writing.

  • I have delivered seminars for graduate and post-graduate courses on reading and writing for pleasure and teaching creative writing. I also run CPD courses for teachers on creative writing and storytelling.

  • I have taught courses in writing picture books and young fiction for City University and also mentored a number of writers.

    Registration for the Apr-May2025 Picture Book Circle is open now.

    Please follow on socials / and substack for news on new dates / chapter book circles to be announced soon.

    Also find plenty of resources on my substack.

Wooden table with laptop, coffee mug, notepad, pen, and smartphone.

Industry Initiatives

  • Orange background with illustration of a bookshelf and the text "The Colourful Bookshelf."

    The Colourful Bookshelf

    The Colourful Bookshelf brings together children's books created by British Creators of Colour.

    Find out more here.

  • Illustrated tiger and parrot on colourful boat with "Sail Fast" banner

    SAIL Fest

    Chitra Soundar is a co-founder of SAIL Fest - a celebration of the best in South Asian children's illustration and literature.

    Find out more here.

  • Illustration of a pen on a yellow paint stroke background with the text "Write 30" below on a blue-grey background.

    Write30

    Since 2020, I’ve been running a writing group called #write30. A bunch of writers (and me) get together at 3 pm UK time every Friday & write to a prompt for 30 min! It’s on google meet, totally free. Fill this form to join us.

Book cover of "Nikhil and Jay: Off to India" by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Soofiya, featuring illustrated characters: Indian grandparents adults and Nikhil & Jay, with a turquoise background and decorative elements.
Book cover of "Manju's Magic Wishes" by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Verónica Montoya. The cover is yellow with an illustration of a genie and a girl, alongside a cat.
Cover of the book 'Manju's Magic Muddle' by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Verónica Montoya. It features a colorful genie-emerging from a lamp, interacting with a young girl and a cat. The background is a light blue with colorful swirls.
Cover of the book "Garland of Lights: A Diwali Story" by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Amberin Huq. Features vibrant illustrations of two children celebrating with sparklers, surrounded by colorful patterns.
Cover of the book 'Ballet Besties: Yara's Chance to Dance' by Yasmine Naghdi and Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Paula Franco. Features three children doing ballet on a blue background.
Cover of the book 'Ballet Besties: Indu's Time to Shine' featuring four young children in ballet poses. The background has a purple and blue gradient with sparkling stars. Illustrated by Paula Franco, text mentions Yasmine Naghdi and Chitra Soundar.
Book cover of 'The Storyteller of Ketu' by Chitra Soundar and Neha Rawat, part of Collins Big Cat series. Illustrated with a tree and a sitting child.
Cover of the book "Kina and the Kite Seller" by Chitra Soundar, featuring an illustration of a person riding a camel in a desert with kites flying in the sky. The logo "Rising Stars Reading Planet" is visible on the top left.
Book cover of 'Pattan's Pumpkin: An Indian Flood Story' by Chitra Soundar and Frané Lessac, featuring an orange pumpkin with green vines and a small elephant on a blue background.
Cover of the book "A Jar of Pickles and a Pinch of Justice" by Chitra Soundar, featuring colorful illustrations of animals and people on a yellow background.
Book cover of 'A Dollop of Ghee and a Pot of Wisdom' by Chitra Soundar, featuring colorful illustrations of Indian villagers, traditional clothing, and a cart with pots.
Book cover of 'Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship: Stories from India' by Chitra Soundar. Illustrated with colorful images of an elephant, people in traditional attire, and animals.
Cover of the book 'Nikhil and Jay Save the Day' by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Soofiya. The cover features two boys in front of a building with a library sign, surrounded by trees. The title is bold at the top with a yellow background.
Cover of the book "Nikhil and Jay: The Star Birthday" by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Soofiya. The cover features an illustration of two boys and an adult smiling, with a birthday theme. The background is pink with decorative elements.
Cover of the book 'No Pets Allowed!' written by Chitra Soundar and illustrated by Fay Austin featuring cartoon illustrations of two characters holding a turtle, set against a bright yellow background.
Cover of the book 'Nikhil and Jay: Flying High' by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Soofiya, featuring illustrations of two characters holding kites against a blue background.
Cover of "Sindhu and Jeet's Detective Agency" by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Amberin Huq. Features two children running with birds flying around, set against a blue background showing London landmarks.
Cover of the book 'Sindhu and Jeet's Missing Star Mystery' by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Amberin Huq. The illustration shows two children and two dogs running with a backdrop of Chennai cityscape.
Book cover titled "We All Celebrate!" by Chitra Soundar and Jenny Bloomfield, featuring colorful illustrations of people from various cultures dancing and celebrating against a red background.
Children's book titled "You're Safe With Me" with intricate animal and forest-themed cover art.
Illustrated book cover for 'You're Snug With Me' featuring bears and snowflakes.
Book cover of 'You're Strong With Me' featuring intricately patterned animals and foliage in earthy tones.
Book cover of ‘Tara and the Friendship Theorem’ by Chitra Soundar. Features an illustration of a girl sitting on a log in a grassy field with trees and structures in the background.
Cover of the book 'Sona Sharma: Wish Me Luck' by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Jen Khatun. It features two people in traditional clothing surrounded by colorful floral decorations on a bright green background.
Cover of the book 'Sona Sharma A Friend Indeed' by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Jen Khatun, featuring three children and a mouse, surrounded by colorful flowers on a purple background.
Illustrated book cover of 'A Sliver of Moon and a Shard of Truth: Stories from India' by Chitra Soundar. The cover features colorful illustrations of animals, fruits, and people in traditional attire, surrounding the book title. The background is tea
Book cover of "Sona Sharma: Looking After Planet Earth" by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Jen Khatun. The cover is decorated with illustrations of plants and fruits, featuring a smiling adult and child sitting together on a blue background.
Cover of the book 'Sona Sharma: Very Best Big Sister' by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Jen Khatun. The cover features a girl holding a baby surrounded by colorful flowers and plants on a yellow background.

FAQ

Close-up of hands typing on a laptop keyboard on a wooden table.

  • Please use the contact form to request an author visit.

    Chitra will be happy to visit schools in the UK and internationally. She will also be happy to visit virtually via Zoom or Teams or Google Meet.

    Chitra charges a fee for all school visits. Please get in touch for details.

  • Yes, you can! Please get in touch to enquire costs - the signing is free. But Chitra will charge for cost of the book and postage.

  • Chitra's books are available to buy in all bookshops, online and on the high street. You can also buy from Chitra's curated collections here in the US and here in the UK.

  • Registration for the Apr-May2025 Picture Book Circle is open now.

    Please follow on socials / and substack for news on new dates / chapter book circles to be announced soon.

    Also find plenty of resources on my substack.

Get in Touch!

Hands using a tablet displaying social media icons for Facebook, Twitter, and others on a white background.

Check out the latest videos

Visit Chitra’s Youtube Channel for interviews, behind the scenes and trailers.