A Detailed Analysis of the Differences Between the Picture Books of India and Those of the West

Picture Books, in all countries, are meant for toddlers and pre-schoolers. They work with the prime motto of inculcating the habit of reading from a very young age. Books in India and the West are quite similar in aspects like imparting values, the length and themes, attractive illustrations, protagonists who are children but there are striking differences too. The differences can be witnessed in the types of animals that appear, the way wild animals are represented, the presence of grandparents, experimentation, themes, settings and cultural aspects. This paper attempts to trace out these differences and analyze them in a detailed manner after having read many books from India and the West. The paper is significant in terms of putting both the Indian and the Western Picture Books together and understanding each other’s style. This can help in borrowing and incorporating necessary elements into their respective books. These observations have been made after taking into account 100 picture books from each culture.