While Kindle threatens to make a splash in the Indian market and forever change the experience of reading, a small army of faithfuls is lining up book events for children and teenagers this month. Leading the way is Delhi-based children’s writer Deepa Agarwal and her Habitat Children’s Book Forum. “For the past six years, we’ve been meeting on the second Saturday of every month at the India Habitat Centre. On Children’s Day, we will organise a big event with literary quizzes, story-writing workshops, mimes and other activities,” says Agarwal, who started the forum with historian Devika Rangachari and mathematician Sunita Baweja. Children between the ages of five and eight can participate in the story-writing session, while those between eight and 12 can try the quiz. Each correct answer will be rewarded with a book.
On the same day, the British Council Library (right) will launch its Teenage Reading Club. Workshop facilitator Monisha Gupta and the team at BCL are hard at work, preparing a reading list for the opening on November 14. “The list will have popular fiction since our purpose is to help children develop a reading habit,” says KM Shibu of BCL. The club will have regular reading sessions and discussions on books and authors. Membership, costing Rs 1,000 and valid for one year, is open to youngsters aged between 13 and 19. The only drawback — only BCL members are eligible.
Contact Habitat Children’s Book Forum at 9811109123; and BCL Club at 42199000
