When we first picked up Tansy Troy’s new title about a spirited crew of animals that rallies to New Delhi for their future, it didn’t need a disclaimer that it wasn’t about cockroaches. Far from it, The Great Nicobar Journey (Talking Cub) follows the story of the Saltwater Crocodile, Leatherback Turtle, Treeshrew, Macaques, and other inhabitants of the Great Nicobar, as they march to the national capital to save their home. At the time of writing, the island faces a threat of nearly 130 sq km of its forests being wiped out for an infrastructure overhaul.

The animals display quirky placards. ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY/TANSY TROY