New Delhi, November 25: Twenty-two months after Bookaroo’s Delhi edition comes to this 13th edition which is full of hope. Bookaroo’s story of hope this year began when 46 speakers, many of them from out of town, unhesitatingly agreed to participate in this edition. The idea was simple – to try and bring some sense of normalcy in the lives of the children of Delhi. This festival was put together in 45 days, a record for us, with support from all publishers, sponsors and many other supporters across the board.

The festival is all set to delight children and parents alike in Delhi with some scintillating storytelling, workshops, poetry, art & craft and books at the 13th edition of India’s first children’s literature festival in the capital city.

Two days of non-stop fun with books will unfold at the National Rail Museum (venue partner). The festival will showcase 50 sessions for children between 4 and 14 over the weekend on November 27th and 28th, 2021. A detailed schedule can be downloaded from the website

For Bookaroo founders, this is a watershed weekend as all of us emerge from an unprecedented situation that hardly left anyone unscathed. It is an emotional comeback for a festival that the children of Delhi have come to love and call their own. “We would like to thank National Rail Museum, publishers, friends, parents, teachers, our authors, illustrators, sponsors and all those who have supported us in many, many ways. This edition has been exceptional in the way all our supporters stood by us,” said M Venkatesh, co-founder and festival director, Bookaroo Children’s Literature Festival.

Highlights of Delhi 2021:

Storytelling: continuous storytelling will come alive under the Kahani tree, as performers present stories as never before!

The Wall of Healing: An ongoing activity where children can express their anguish, pain and wounds guided by artists and illustrators from the Art1st team.

Issues: Sessions on self-discovery where children are encouraged to think why they are unique and how their being is more important than the colour of their skin.

Book launches: This Bookaroo features three book launches – Happiness Train by Nandini Nayar, Coral Woman by Lubaina Bandukwala, Ammu’s Bottle Boat by (Niveditha Subramanium), Pedru and the Big Boom by Nandita da Cunha, The Tiger, the Bear and the Battle for Mahovan by Akshay Manwani.

Entry is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Entry into NRM is ticketed but sessions in Bookaroo are free to attend. The nearest metro stations are M Visvesvaraya Moti Bag and Lok Kalyan Marg (formerly Race Course Road).

Let’s stay safe! While Bookaroo is taking all possible steps to maintain Covid protocols, visitors are requested to cooperate with the volunteers when they are managing entry and seating arrangements in various sub venues. Hand sanitisers have been installed throughout the venue, and face masks will need to be worn at all times.

Bookaroo’s mission is to bring back the wonder of imagination and make reading books fascinating in today’s world for children.  Organised by Delhi-based Bookaroo Trust – it is India’s first literature festival of its kind. The festival, which began in November 2008 as a solo edition in New Delhi, has since travelled to 16 cities across India and has completed 37 editions.

Website: www.bookaroo.in

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