Best Urdu Books for Kids: How to Choose by Stage

The best Urdu books for kids are ones that match where your child is right now: picture word books for first words, simple sentence books once they know some vocabulary, and stories when they're ready to follow along. For children growing up with English, books that show Urdu in English letters (Roman Urdu) alongside the Urdu script and English make it easier for the whole family to read together. If you can't read Urdu yourself, books with audio help a lot.

How to choose an Urdu book for your child

Match the stage, not just the age. A six-year-old who is new to Urdu may get more from a word book than a story. A four-year-old who hears Urdu every day may be ready for simple sentences. Start where your child is comfortable and move up when they're ready.

Check the writing. Some books are only in Urdu script, some in Roman Urdu, and some show both with English. If you want to read together and you don't read the script, Roman Urdu makes that possible. Our post on Roman Urdu or Urdu script first explains the trade-offs.

Look for pictures and real-life topics. Children learn words faster when they connect to things they see every day: food, family, home, feelings, animals.

Think about audio. If no one at home is confident with Urdu pronunciation, audio means your child hears it said properly.

Choose sturdy books for little ones. Board books survive being chewed, dropped and read a hundred times.

Our Roman Urdu board books, by stage

All our books are durable hardcover board books, with every word labelled in Roman Urdu (Urdu written in English), traditional Urdu and English. They're grouped into three series: Words, Sentences and Stories. The series aren't tied to our class levels, so you can pick whatever suits your child.

Stage 1: Words (first vocabulary)

For children just starting out, or who need more everyday words.

• Ghar Kee Cheezain (Household Items): over 50 household items, organised room by room.
• Rung Aur Gintee (Colours and Counting): over 50 common objects, with colours in the first half and counting in the second.
• Qudrat (Nature): nature organised by scenes, such as forest and desert, with labels for body parts too.
• Khaanay Kee Cheezain (Things to Eat): breakfast and lunch foods, fruits and vegetables, desi snacks and nuts, and classics like daal, chawal and qeema.
• Duniya Kay Jaanvar (Animals of the World): animals and insects from farms to rainforests and deserts, with animal sounds.

Stage 2: Sentences (putting words together)

For children who know some words and are ready to describe things and answer simple questions.

• Aasaan Jumlay (Easy Sentences): describing things by size, colour and more, with three sentences per page and a fill-in-the-blank to try.
• Meray Jazbaat (My Emotions): feelings and emotions, told through two mini-stories, with a summary page at the end.
• Mera Khaandaan (My Family): family relationships and basic sentences, with a family tree at the end.
• Ice Cream Truck Aa Gaya (Ice Cream Truck is Here): colours, opposites and outdoor objects, following a girl waiting for the ice cream truck on a hot day.
• Rozana Kee Baateein (Everyday Conversations): simple everyday questions and answers, then options for children to build their own sentences.

Stage 3: Stories (following along)

For children ready to enjoy a story in Urdu.

• Bachon Nay Daikhay Jaanvar (The Children Saw Animals): a rhyming adventure of four children exploring the wild.
• Bachon Nay Daikhee Kainaat (The Children Saw the Universe): a rhyming story about space, volcanoes and other "cool" concepts.
• Kiran... Kee-raan Naheen (Kiran... Not Kee-raan): Kiran tries to get her name pronounced correctly on the playground, something many of us in the West know well.
• Bachon Nay Daikha Pakistan (The Children Saw Pakistan): streets, bazaars and the sounds of Pakistan, from honking trucks to the sabzi vala.
• Nana Ka Khazaana (Nana's Treasure): a child goes looking for "treasure" with his grandfather, who has a different idea of what treasure is.

Not sure where to start?

The Starter Set includes six books across all three series (two Words, two Sentences, two Stories) plus the Bolo Pen.

The Bolo Pen: books that read themselves aloud

The Bolo Pen is our talking pen. Tap anywhere on a page of a Kids Bolo book and it reads the text aloud, plays sound effects or music. It works with all Kids Bolo books, including future ones, but only with Kids Bolo books. The pen recharges by USB and has a headphone jack. It's sold separately from the books, except in the Starter Set.

For families who don't speak Urdu confidently, the pen means your child hears real pronunciation every time, and you can learn alongside them. Our post can my child learn Urdu if I don't speak it? has more ideas.

Books plus speaking practice

Books are wonderful for vocabulary, listening and story time. To help children speak, pair them with conversation, at home or in a class. Our conversational classes for ages 5-7, 8-10 and 11-13 use Roman Urdu too, in small groups of 3 to 5, and our play-based sessions are for ages 2.5 to 4.5. The free Kids Bolo app adds games and flashcards with native audio. See all classes in the Kids Bolo Academy, or every option on Learn Urdu Online. For ideas on using books at story time, see Roman Urdu stories for kids.

Common questions

What's the best first Urdu book for a child?

A picture word book on an everyday topic, like household items, food or animals, is a good first step for most beginners.

Are Kids Bolo books in Urdu script or Roman Urdu?

Both. Every word is labelled in Roman Urdu, traditional Urdu script and English.

Do I need the Bolo Pen to use the books?

No, you can read them like any book. The pen adds audio, sound effects and music, which helps if you're not confident with pronunciation.

Does the Bolo Pen work with other books?

No. It only works with Kids Bolo books, but it works with all of them, including future ones.

Do the books match Kids Bolo class levels?

No, the books aren't tied to class levels. Choose by your child's stage and interests.

Is the pen included with the books?

Only in the Starter Set. Otherwise the pen is sold separately.