Booked for fun

Children don8217;t always believe reading is fun, so here comes a festival that promises to change their minds. Bookaroo, India8217;s first literature festival for children, will kick off in the Capital on November 22.

India8217;s first literary festival for children is all set to open in Delhi

Children don8217;t always believe reading is fun, so here comes a festival that promises to change their minds. Bookaroo, India8217;s first literature festival for children, will kick off in the Capital on November 22. 8220;Two days packed with exciting events. By the end of it, we hope, children will see books as trendy and enjoyable,8221; says Anita Roy of Young Zubaan, one of the organisers.

Some of the other organisers are bookstore Eureka, writers Anushka Ravishankar and Subhadra Sengupta as well as publisher Young Zubaan and literary consultancy Siyahi. Around 35 major writers, publishers, illustrators and performers have joined hands, so that the programme list is varied and quirky and kids, with their short attention spans, don8217;t get bored. The initial fervour has been encouraging 8212; more than 1,200 registrations ever since word about the festival spread in schools.

8220;Let8217;s Sing Along with Anushka Ravishankar,8221; the first event on Day One, is already full but there are seats left for several others. Go on an adventure with Jo Williams called 8220;Charmseekers8217; Challenge8221; or get under the skin of birds and beasts in 8220;Panchantantra in Wonderland.8221; The interestingly titled 8220;Pchak! Pchak!8221; has writer Padmini Mongia reading from her new picture book about a pair of crocodiles in the backwaters of Kerala whose baby refuses to open her mouth.

Writer Subhadra Sen Gupta will teach children to make their own cartoon stories in 8220;Comic Shomic8221; as well as take them on a tour of Sanskriti Museum on a time travel story. 8220;It8217;s about how a bunch of children find themselves in 19th century Delhi,8221; says Sen Gupta.

While most events are for specific age groups, special sessions like a meeting with celebrity American graphic novelist Jeff Smith is open to all. 8220;And there8217;s something for grown-ups too,8221; says Roy. Wendy Cooling, one of UK8217;s foremost educationists, will meet parents, teachers and librarians in the programme, 8220;It8217;s Never Too Early To Start8221;.

Bookaroo will be held on November 22 and 23 at Sanskriti, Anand Gram, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road.Time: 10 am-5pm. Log on to bookaroo.in.