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Children’s authors and storytellers gather for Paper Trails literary fest

FirstSteps School hosts three-day festival to promote reading and writing among young learners.

Children’s authors and storytellers gather for Paper Trails literary festJapji Cheema, chairperson of FirstSteps School, said the festival aimed to bring books, authors and young readers together and to transform reading from a solitary activity into a shared experience.

Renowned children’s authors, illustrators and storytellers have converged at the ‘Paper Trails Literary Fest 2025’, being organised by FirstSteps School at its Sector 26 campus. The three-day festival, which began on Monday, will continue till December 17.

Well-known names from the world of children’s literature, including writer Asha Nehemiah, author Meghaa Gupta, editor and writer Vidya Mani, illustrator and storyteller Shyam Madhavan Sarada, popularly known as Greystroke, and storyteller Deeptha Vivekanand, interacted with the media on the sidelines of the festival. They were joined by Japji Cheema, chairperson of FirstSteps School, and principal Jasbir Kaur.

Cheema said the festival aimed to bring books, authors and young readers together and to transform reading from a solitary activity into a shared experience. “The festival includes storytelling sessions, illustration activities for book covers, book readings and interactive sessions by leading children’s literature authors and storytellers,” she said.

Principal Jasbir Kaur said that as an International Baccalaureate school, FirstSteps focused on moving beyond rote learning towards conceptual understanding and real-world application. “The literary fest is an effort to help children understand the importance of reading and writing through direct interaction with experts,” she said, adding that the school would soon be setting up an IB school in Panchkula as well.

Asha Nehemiah, author of popular children’s titles such as ‘The Rajah’s Moustache’, ‘Granny’s Sari’ and ‘Mrs Woolly’s Funny Sweaters’, underlined the importance of literature festivals dedicated to children. Meghaa Gupta, known for her history series on Independent India published by Penguin Random House, expressed happiness at being part of the event.

Vidya Mani, who runs the content and design studio ‘Melting Pot’ and has edited children’s magazines such as Chatterbox, Quest, Junior Quest, Hoot and Toot, spoke about engaging with children to help them build a strong foundation in reading. Greystroke, whose book Wailers Three, published by Pratham Books, is a CBSE-recommended reader for Kendriya Vidyalayas, said such festivals played a key role in nurturing reading and writing habits among young learners.

As part of the programme, Vidya Mani and Greystroke conducted a magazine illustration workshop on December 15, while Deeptha Vivekanand led a storytelling session. International storyteller Kapil Pandey will conduct a session on December 16, followed by a storytelling workshop by Greystroke on December 17, which will also be observed as Punjabi Day. Shiraz Saini, a storyteller, also participated in the festival.

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Students of the school have been involved in poetry and writing activities throughout the month and have prepared a showcase based on their inquiry cycle around literature. A travelling children’s bookshop by Funky Rainbow has also been set up on the campus, featuring books by visiting authors, illustrators and storytellers.

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