Children & Young Adults

Chitra Fernando was a lecturer in linguistics and writer of short stories and children's literature. The Firebird is a story that she wrote for the children of a friend.

Read an excerpt!

An enchanted Firebird. A lost sister. And a brother who goes to bring her back.

Nalinika and Indrajit lived quiet little lives with their pets. Every evening, they would listen spellbound to Podihami weave tales of ogres, cobra kings, and a Firebird who enchants a princess. But one day, Nalinika disappears, and Indrajit is convinced she has been taken to the land of the Firebird, never to return.

Thus begins a one-thing-leads-to-another adventure of a lifetime and a desperate search for his sister, where Indrajit hopes that a miracle just might happen.

Brought to life with beautiful illustrations by Panchali Ellepola, The Firebird is a story of a brother's love that conquers all obstacles that cross his path.

Prashani Rambukwella's first book, Mythil's Secret, won the 2009 Gratiaen Prize, thrilling readers both young and old with its originality, fast pace and authentic Sri Lankan voice. A corporate writer by profession, Prashani is a poet and playwright but is happiest when writing stories for children.

The exciting sequel to Mythil's Secret

Mythil must put aside his problems with a school bully when his secret friend Asiri suddenly regains a part of his memory. But is Asiri's fantastic story from wartime Ceylon a figment of Mythil's imagination or did it really happen? Can Mythil use what he has learned on Asiri's Quest to overcome his problems at school? Join Mythil and Asiri on another spine-chilling, time-travelling adventure to find out!

Mythil's Secret is that rare thing in children's fiction - a work that discusses both adult and children's issues equally well... Yet, what takes Mythil's Secret beyond much children's literature, and where it really succeeds, is in its willingness to address the strengths, weaknesses and responsibilities of grown-ups, too, especially in relation to kids.
CHA, an Asian Literary Journal

Approved by the Ministry of Education

Faith Ratnayake, Neluka Silva, Simon Harris, Rossana Favero-Karunaratne, Gavitha Ganesan, Premini Amerasinghe, Chandini Kirinde, Lal Medawattegedera, Lolita Subasinghe

Journey to a strange village and learn the secret of their hats or travel in time to towns in Sri Lanka with a genii. Read about the dilemma of a cat that is forbidden to hunt or dream about building an aeroplane that will fly over golden paddy fields. In this collection MilkRice enthusiastically presents nine stories for children from new and established writers.

'Like kiributh, that favourite of the children's festive table, the stories assembled here present a feast that is not only delicious but sustaining. The next time you need to buy gifts for bright, intelligent young friends, forget about Barbie dolls and computer games. Give them Milk Rice' – Yasmine Gooneratne

Compiled and edited by Ameena Hussein, these stories are authored by: Afdhel Aziz, Anthea Senaratna, Kanthi Goonawardane, Nisreen Jafferjee, Manoshi de Silva, Ruveka Attygalle, Sanjaya Senanayake and Samia Cader

The sequel to Milk Rice

A bear with a frightening name, a cat who is a dictator, a water drop that travels the world and a mynah with a wonderful gift...

In the second collection of MILK RICE, we bring you a rich and varied selection of eight wonderfully entertaining stories with illustrations and a marvelous mix of fantasy and imagination. This volume is a real treasure trove of words and stories which amuse and entertain as they immerse children in the world of books. Every tale brings laughter or tears and has a special message about growing up. Perfect for reading alone or aloud and for dipping into time and time again.