About / Bio
Chitra Soundar is an internationally published, award-winning author of over 60 books for children. She is also an oral storyteller and writer of books, TV, plays, and short stories for children and adults. Chitra is based in London, UK.
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Agent contact details
For TV & Audio: Warren Sherman, Cecily Ware Literary Agents
For Books: Alice Sutherland-Hawes, ASH Literary, London, United Kingdom
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Genres
Writing hours
Writer's credits
TV Credits
- Wrote 17 of the 52 11′ episodes for Nikhil & Jay, which she also created.
- Wrote two episodes on Woohoos! a preschool show by Snipple Animation for Milkshake TV!
- Written on a popular baby show for Moonbug.
- Written two episodes of Little Baby Bum Music Time for Netflix.
- Written 2 episodes for Bubbles & Friend Youtube channel for Barnstormer Media.
- Wrote 2 stories for BBC Bitesize with Sun & Moon Studios
- Completed 7 stories for BBC Bitesize English comprehension games.
- Winner of the Best Script for an Animated Series at the 2025 Irish Animation Awards.
- Developed and currently serving as EP and writer on Nikhil & Jay, a preschool sitcom show for CBeebies with King Banana TV and Paper Owl Films.
- Tilly & Tortellini currently under option by Lime Pictures.
- Developed a preschool show based on a children’s book IP for an Indian production company.
- Developed a new sci-fi show for 8+ with a leading Indian animation studio.
Writing for Audio & Podcasts
- Writer on The Story Reaper Podcast – teen horror made for audio story.
- Completed 4 episodes on Grandma Mei’s Fantastic Folktales – a story podcast for kids by Moonbug Entertainment & Audible.
- Grandpa Gopi’s Magic Medicine (Nov 21) – an original audio story for Wondery – Little Stories Everywhere
- Ladybird Stories for Holi by Ladybird Audio
Other Accolades
2021 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is – one of the 4 winners at CMC,
2021 Finalist in the Big Thinkers competition for TV projects – 2022
Writing Comedy and Drama
- Comedy script Grandfather is Dead was long-listed forUKTV 50-50 competition
- Hayley’s Harmony – sitcom script was a quarter-finalist in Female Pilot Club 2024 competition.
- Abi Prakash Intervenes – Cosy crime drama pilot was a quarter-finalist in Female Pilot Club 2026 competition.
Author of over 60 children’s books
PUBLISHED WORLDWIDE WITH LEADING PUBLISHERS
- Picture books for children under 5.
- Fiction for young readers
- Graphic Novel and Plays for young readers Non-fiction for young readers.
- Poetry for young readers
Writing for TV & Stage
- Completed two scripts on an unannounced Moonbug preschool show for Netflix.
- Written two episode for Bubbles and Friends Youtube channel.
- Staffed on a YTKids show for Moonbug
- 20 episodes x 4’ of a new preschool Youtube web-series for Moonlight Animation Studio, India
- Grandfather is Dead, short TV script longlisted for UK TV 50-50 comedy competition
- Hoshiyaar Oont – a stage play for preschool – written and performed in the UK, 2019
Audio Stories
• Grandpa Gopi’s Magic Medicine (Nov 21) – an original audio story for Wondery – Little Stories Everywhere
Audio Books
- Ladybird Tales of Crowns and Thorns – 3 stories
- Mangoes, Mischief and Tales of Friendship – A collection of 8 stories
- A Sliver of Moon and A Shard of Truth – A collection of 4 stories
- Sona Sharma – Very Best Big Sister? Fiction for young readers
Recent Awards and Nominations
Mangoes, Mischief and Tales of Friendship
- Won the Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Award conferred by the Westchester Library Association, USA.
- Awarded the presitigious JLG Gold Standard for 2019
- Finalist at the Cybils Award 2020 in the Early Chapter Books category.
- The audio book won the Silver Medal at the Parents Choice Award.
A Jar of Pickles and a Pinch of Justice
- Won the Eugenie Summerfield Children’s Prize in 2018
- Shortlisted for the Surrey Libraries Children’s Book Award 2018.
Sona Sharma – Very Best Big Sister
- A UK Booktrust Pick 2021,
- US School Library Journal – Best Books 2021
- Chicago Public Library Best Book 2021.
- Featured in the Empathy Read 2022 guide for primary schools.
- Nominated – Rhode Island Children’s Book Award 2022.
- Shortlisted – Inspire Read shortlist 2022 by Nottingham Libraries.
- Toka Box book club pick July 2022
Sona Sharma – Looking After Planet Earth
- Chosen as book club pick by Peters Books, UK
- A UK Booktrust Pick 2022
You’re … With Me series
- You’re Safe With Me was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal 2019
- You’re Snug With Me was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal 2020.
- You’re Strong With Me, chosen as the South Asian Picture Book of 2019 by Tokabox, California.