Dr. Shailaja Menon currently leads early learning and literacy initiatives at Tata Trusts. Prior to this, Shailaja taught literacy and children’s literature courses at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Azim Premji University, Bangalore. She is co-editor of the volumes: Children’s Books: An Indian Story (Eklavya, 2024); Early Literacy Initiative: Resource Book Series; Early Literacy Initiative: Practitioner Briefs Series (Eklavya, 2020); and Childhoods in India: Traditions, Trends and Transformations (Routledge, 2017). She serves as an editor of the journal Contemporary Education Dialogue; her articles have been carried in journals nationally and internationally. Shailaja was the founder-anchor of the annual bilingual children’s festival, KathaVana at Azim Premji University; and serves on prominent children’s literature juries in India and abroad.