literature with more pictorial content, science and environmental books that come with CDs, apps and smart packaging have rekindled children's interest in reading, says Divya Kaushik
While it was thought that Romeo and Juliet, tale of Draupadi, Amar Chtitra Katha and Malgudi Days have become passé for kids, publishing houses were thinking of smart ways to re-introduce these classics. So now Draupadi dons a new look, one that doesn’t portray her purely as an epic character, on the cover page of the graphic novel. Characters from Amar Chitra Katha are cool and sketched with more colours and funny expressions and biographies of people like Martin luther King and Nelson Mandela come as a graphic novel. At the ongoing World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan, all this combined with attractive packaging and discounted prices is drawing children. A few years ago, parents complained that it is difficult to inculcate reading habits among children, the trend seems to be changing now. “Most books popular among children come as a package with the DVD or a CD. A child, who is not interested in reading a book, might like to pick up a DVD that comes with a book at the same price as the DVD alone. At least he will take a look at the book and through presentations and graphics would read it,” says Arun Kanojia from Madhuban Publishers and agrees that the sale of children books has increased and “it is now not parents who drag the kids to buy a book for reading, it is the other way round.”
Say it with pictures
All those who missed the chance of attending recently-concluded Comic Con India are making most of the book fair. Stalls of Penguin India, Student Book Center, Goodwill Books International and other publishers are being thronged for graphic novels. “Graphic novels are not limited to any age group. It is not just children who are picking the volumes but even adults are buying Spiderman and Batman series. Justice league of America, Green lantern and The Sandman are among the bestsellers,” informs Anindita Buragohain from Random House Publishers. Shaleen Jain, English honours student, visited the fair on the first day and was looking for some literature that he read as a kid and is now available with interesting graphics. “Percy Jackson, Inferno and Harry Potter are available at reasonable prices. It is the best place to stock the series I have been eyeing since long,” he says.
lessons for all
It is not only children who can decide to halt at spaces innovatively designed and read for as long as they want. There are some stalls where parents can talk to experts about systematic learning at home. “It is for a certain period that a child is in school, what she or he ultimately learns is from parents. So it is important for parents to know how to answer the child’s queries, how to inculcate healthy lifestyle habits in children. We talk to them about guiding children and we have services and products to help parents make kids learn at home,” said a spokesperson at one of the stalls. Parents are also resorting to interesting teaching aids, like activity boxes where kids learn about the basics of science and mathematics, puzzles and do-it-yourself material. Characters like Garfield and Doraemon have been used to teach lessons like ‘Say sorry when you do something wrong’ and ‘Have fun and exercise outside in fresh air.’
The price factor
For those who think they are serious reading bugs, book fair is an ideal destination. Student Book Center is the most thronged as it is offering books on every topic under the sun in the price range of Rs 50, 100 or 200. All you need to do is make your way among the crowd and look for your favourite titles. One reason many school students are taking time out to visit the fair is that it is getting them their study material for competitive exams at the prices one would only find for second hand books. “I will be sitting for competitive exams next year and I found some books here and at a very good price that fits my budget,” says Mohit Garg of grade 11.
photos Pankaj Kumar