The Mountains of Mumbai

“Climb every mountain, whether it’s in Mumbai or Ladakh, what does it matter? If you look with the eyes of love, you will see beauty.
The Mountains of Mumbai teaches us to look again at our city and at our world.”
- Jerry Pinto, author

“The Mountains of Mumbai is a charming, vivid romp through India’s largest city. It shows that no matter how different we seem to be, we actually have a lot in common - if only we have the imagination to see it that way.”
- Naresh Fernandes, Editor, Scroll.in

“Woven together with words that tell of a fine friendship, this book beautifully captures the hustle and bustle of Mumbai in gorgeous watercolour sketches as the girls travel across the city engrossed in their conversation. It is a lovely introduction to India’s first planned metropolis for its youngest residents.”
- Rishad Saam Mehta, author

“The illustrations are gorgeous, there’s not a superfluous word in the text. It makes the book a thing of joy – a lesson in adjusting, dreaming big and holding on to friendships.” ~Rachel Lopez, Hindustan Times

"This book is a breezy introduction to everything Mumbai... I loved the minimal text—colour-coded, so you don’t get confused on who’s saying what—and the watercolour panoramas of the city’s architecture... great use of wide spreads, and when laid out, could even be something to pretty up the bedroom wall. Effortless, non-preachy and with just the right hint of cultural tidbits, this book is a sweet buy to stir up some childhood wonder." ~Outlook Traveller

“…this is a beauty of a book that speaks of homesickness, wonder, and, eventually, a whole new way of looking at a city’s architecture, shaped as it is by the aspirations and demands of its inhabitants.” ~The Indian Express

This book is perfect for children over the age of four. I think it would be especially enjoyed by a child who enjoys learning about different cities and cultures from around the world. ~Youth Services Book Review

"The size of the book, in landscape format, is unusual, attractive and immediately catches the eye...[A] stunning double spread conveys the vastness of the city. At the same time the details bring the buildings alive...The Mountains of Mumbai is a visual treat and the illustrations do justice to its extra-long landscape size. From the initial spreads, where the two friends walk on the pavement and visit a market the sights of Mumbai are brought alive through bold watercolour. One particular favourite is a bird’s eye view double spread of a busy city road, flanked by buildings on both sides." - Parag Reads ~Parag Reads

"Jain’s watercolor paintings are vivid and detailed, reveling in the bustle of the city. The unusual trim—double-page spreads measure 7 inches high by 28 inches wide—gives a sense of sweeping panoramas. One particularly effective spread demands a 90-degree turn of the book to fully appreciate the staircase the girls ascend. Veda and Doma’s journey is punctuated with recognizable landmarks (e.g., the Bandra-Worli Sea Link bridge), making this an excellent book for the armchair traveler as well. Readers who’ve never been to Mumbai will want to visit while those who love it will smile." - Kirkus reviews ~Kirkus Reviews

"The Mountains of Mumbai is a unique picture book full of beautiful colors and a poignant message — that beauty can be found anywhere if only one dares to search for it and allow for alternate and imaginative perspectives." - Seattle Book Review ~Seattle Book Review

"...there's unremitting originality in Pallavi Jain's supersaturated watercolors…While Jain's Mumbai won't be mistaken for any other city, Ghosh's message--that an open mind can conjure a world of possibilities--should resonate with readers wherever they happen to be." - Shelf Awareness. ~Shelf Awareness

"...a sheer delight to read and flip through. Set in the bustling, chaotic and yet welcoming and vibrant city of Mumbai, this story showcases the harmony and familiarity between the lofty mountains of Ladakh and the symbolic ‘mountains’ of Mumbai, thereby bringing in an element of finding similarities within our inherent differences. ~Huffington Post India

"While the cultural and geographic specificity of Ladakh is what makes the book unique, readers come away from it challenged to view objects and locations in new ways that foster connections, despite differences." ~Horn Book