Krithika Mohan sits comfortably, yet her words brim with an urgency to disrupt the status quo in children’s literature. “As a child of Indian immigrants growing up in Australia, I rarely saw myself in the stories I read,” she says. “It’s a void I’ve carried with me, and I knew one day I had to do something about it.”
That “something” became Little Owl Stories, a personalised children’s book company co-founded by Krithika and her business partner, Yvonne. Their mission is simple yet transformative: to create culturally rich stories that help children see themselves, their traditions, and their heritage on the pages of books. “Over 70% of children’s books still fail to reflect the multicultural world we live in,” Krithika explains. “We want to change that.”
Their debut series dives into the vibrant festival of Diwali, offering two books tailored to different age groups. “For our youngest readers, we created My First Diwali. It’s a joyful introduction for children aged 0–3, filled with colourful imagery and simple themes,” Krithika shares. “For older children, My Diwali Dream takes them on a magical journey where they meet Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, and Goddess Lakshmi. Each deity teaches a valuable lesson—kindness, humility, and generosity.”
Krithika’s eyes light up as she describes the creative process. “Writing these stories allows me to tap into my own childhood memories while building something meaningful for the next generation. It starts with deep research—reading, speaking to family and friends, and connecting with community members to ensure authenticity.”
But the journey of Little Owl Stories has been far from smooth. “We’re proudly self-published,” Krithika says, a hint of pride mixed with the grit of hard-earned experience. “Every book is personalised, making it incompatible with traditional publishing models. It means we’ve had to figure out everything ourselves—design, printing, marketing, you name it.”
Challenges abound in the world of self-publishing, and Krithika recalls a particularly stressful moment. “Right before our first Diwali books were set to print, our previous printer backed out. It was a chaotic scramble, but we found a new printer just in time. Those kinds of moments teach you resilience.”
Despite these hurdles, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. “Hearing parents say their children finally see themselves in a book—that’s what keeps us going,” she says. “For kids from multicultural families, our stories act as bridges, connecting them to their roots while celebrating their unique identities.”
Krithika points to the deep impact of representation. “When children see their traditions, festivals, and even their own names in a book, it sends a powerful message: their culture is valued. It’s not just about pride—it’s about belonging.”
The future looks bright for Little Owl Stories, with plans to expand their library to include more festivals and traditions. “We’re starting with South Asian communities, but we envision building the largest library of personalised, culturally rich stories in the world,” she says. “Children everywhere should feel represented.”
For now, it’s just Krithika and Yvonne running the show. “It’s a lot of late nights and juggling responsibilities,” she laughs. “But the dream keeps us motivated. One day, we hope to grow our team and release books more frequently.”
Their books are exclusively available online, with a seamless ordering process. “Parents can customise each book to reflect their child, from their name to their appearance,” Krithika explains. “It’s not just a story—it’s their story.”
Social media plays a key role in their journey, with Instagram being a hub for updates and sneak peeks. “We love sharing the behind-the-scenes process, from brainstorming ideas to finalising designs,” Krithika says. “It helps us connect with our audience in a personal way.”
Looking ahead, Krithika is eager to bring Little Owl Stories to global markets. “We’re already reaching families in the USA, UK, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia. But this is just the beginning. We want every child to feel celebrated, no matter where they are.”
It’s clear that Little Owl Stories is more than a business—it’s a labour of love, a vision to rewrite the narrative of children’s literature. As Krithika puts it, “We’re building a future where every child grows up knowing their story matters.”
With that, Little Owl Stories isn’t just shining a light on Diwali—it’s lighting the way for a more inclusive world.
Where to Buy and Stay Connected
Discover Krithika Mohan’s personalised books at www.littleowlstories.com and follow their journey on Instagram: @littleowlstories.
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