Mumbai, India | October 8, 2026 - What began as a simple childhood doodle has grown into a published picture book. Lucas the Lizard and the Temple of a Million Powers, written by young Dubai-based author Avir Mehta and illustrated by Andrew McIntosh, is now available to readers across India through Scholastic India.
Scholastic India is the Indian arm of Scholastic, the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. Working in India since 1997, it publishes well-known Indian authors such as Ruskin Bond and Gulzar and reaches young readers through school Book Clubs and Book Fairs.
Overseas, the book has been published by Little Steps Publishing. Little Steps Publishing is an independent UK-based publisher specialising in children’s books.
It focuses on nurturing emerging authors and illustrators, bringing imaginative stories to life through engaging storytelling and illustrations. Its books aim to inspire creativity, curiosity and a love of reading among young readers.
Created for children aged 3 to 6, the book follows Lucas, a curious young lizard who embarks on a journey to discover his special powers, only to learn that his greatest strengths have been within him all along.
At its heart, the story is about mindfulness and self-belief. Avir first imagined Lucas at the age of eight, when his love of drawing, storytelling and creating imaginary worlds began to take shape on scraps of paper. What started as a character in a child’s imagination gradually developed into a story.
Families in India can buy the paperback through Scholastic India and Amazon.in.
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A Story of Mindfulness and Self-Belief
Lucas the Lizard and the Temple of a Million Powers follows Lucas as he sets out to find his true strengths. What he discovers is that his superpowers are unlocked through mindfulness and self-belief.
The book is a paperback picture book for children aged 3 to 6. It can be read aloud by a parent or teacher, or explored by a child on their own.
The story gives families and classrooms a simple way to talk with young children about paying attention to their thoughts and believing in themselves.
The illustrations are by Andrew McIntosh, a digital illustrator from Melbourne, Australia, who brings Lucas and his world to life on the page.
Avir Mehta, Author and Creator of Lucas the Lizard
Avir Mehta is the author and creator of Lucas the Lizard. Avir Mehta lives in Dubai with his family. Lucas the Lizard and the Temple of a Million Powers is his debut book.
At the age of eight, Avir Mehta began doodling characters and filling small pieces of paper with stories. One of those early sketches became Lucas, the young lizard who gives the book its name.
Around the same time, Avir was introduced to meditation and mindfulness through a children’s coach in school. These sessions encouraged children to become more aware of their thoughts and emotions, and the experience left a lasting impression on him. Over time, the lessons Avir had begun exploring through mindfulness became the foundation of his story.
Many of the other ideas in the book come from Avir Mehta's own experiences, and for him, Lucas is more than a character - he is Avir! He enjoys creating new worlds, asking big questions and bringing ideas to life. Through Lucas, author Avir Mehta hopes to inspire other children to believe in themselves and in the unique gifts each of them has.
“Lucas started as a small drawing on a piece of paper, and now he has his own book,” said Avir Mehta, author of Lucas the Lizard and the Temple of a Million Powers. “I wrote this story because I began to see that everybody already has powers inside them. You just have to stay calm, believe in yourself and look for them.”
A Young Author Writing for Young Readers
Most picture books are written by adults for children. Lucas the Lizard and the Temple of a Million Powers was created by a young author, which gives the story a point of view close to that of its readers.
The character began in a child's notebook, and the story carries a message that Avir Mehta hopes other children will take to heart.
The themes of the book also suit the early years. Mindfulness and self-belief are ideas that many parents and schools look for in early reading, and the book presents them through a character and an adventure that young children can relate to.
Availability
Lucas the Lizard and the Temple of a Million Powers by Avir Mehta is available in paperback in India through Scholastic India and Amazon.in, priced at INR 399.
The India edition carries ISBN 978-93-5954-031-3. The UK edition, ISBN 978-1-915641-56-4, was released in July 2026 by Little Steps Publishing.
More information about the book and its author is available on the official website of Avir Mehta’s Lucas the Lizard at lucasthelizard.com.
Readers can follow Lucas on Instagram at @LucasTheLizardWorld.
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