A Story on Children's Day - Rukmani and Her Jewel Box

Susheela's Kolam - Pratham Books Storytelling Event on 8th September

Great enthusiasm, awesome participation, creativity, colors, children, staff, and teamwork brought beauty to the kolams drawn at the Eureka Smile Centre at Triplicane, Chennai. On 8th September, we started the session by sticking the readymade sticker kolams. Then one kid read out Susheela's Kolam story. Then other kids told stories from books and Eureka story cards. 

Next, we had a warm-up session and asked the children to draw a few kolams on the blackboard. Then the kids drew kolams on chart paper using crayons. The kids came out with different and intricate rangoli patterns. 

Next, we split the children into three groups and asked them to draw rangoli with colour powder. Again, they came out with beautiful and colorful patterns. Then we had biscuits. Two Eureka volunteers reviewed the crayon kolams and selected 10 winners. We gave away prizes to the kids. The day ended with a short motivational story in Tamil by the Eureka volunteer. 

Many thanks to Eureka's Meenakshi, the Smile Centre teaching staff, two Eureka volunteers, and the eager children who made the Susheela's Kolam event a big success. It was a fun-filled 2-hour session. Many thanks to Pratham Books staff Maya and Team for their motivational and informative e-mails. For more colorful event photos, click here.

True Education

Chudar Magazine - for kids by kids

Chudar 2012 - Children's Magazine of Advesa Trust

Advesa Trust conducts World Read Aloud Day on 10th March 2012

On the evening of 10th March, around 25 kids gathered at Advesa Trust rural library for kids to read aloud Pratham Books stories. Five children read out stories. Swaathi read aloud the "Yakity Yak" story. Santhosh Kumar read "En Udal Pesuvathai Kelungal" Tamil story. Kavitha read "Nilaavum Thopiyum" Tamil Story. Charumathy read "Kazhugum Aanthaiyum" Tamil Story. Lokesh read "Noyutra Parunthu" Tamil story. Click here for event photos.

Pratham Books Champion Anitha Jebaraj coordinated the event. She gave inputs on how kids can improve their pronunciation, raise their reading volume/voice, and speak proper English or proper Tamil and not Tanglish!

World Read Aloud Day at Violet School Chennai - A Pratham Books Event

I was delighted to meet Violet School Principal Ms. Lydia at 8:45 am in the morning. She said that as planned she wanted std 3rd to std 7th kids to listen to the Yakity Yak story. But the std 1-2 teachers wanted their children to also join the story reading session. So, after the assembly the tiny tots sat down in a shady corridor for the story.

I (Pratham Books Champion Anitha Jebaraj) started the session with a short intro to the World Read Aloud Day (WRAD). When asked if they read books outside their curriculum, many of them told that they read Comics( like Toystory) and Fairy Tales (like Cindrella).

Yeah, they read books

We started the story reading by asking three students to hold up the Yak placards. One of the kids could identify the Yak. When asked what was special about the Yak - they said it was the hair (or fur). I read out the Yakity Yak story for them. The children gave quick answers to questions inbetween. When asked which proverb will fit well with the story the kids said, " A friend in need is a friend indeed."

Anitha tells Yakity Yak story. 

Next, around 10 kids read out the Yakity Yak story - one page each. Prema of Team Everest motivated the kids. We wound up the happy event at 10 am. Then we took group snaps. The school management was kind enough to arrange brunch, coffee, and also dropped us back in main Chrompet in their school bus.

The Children read Yakity Yak

A big thank you to Violet School staff, Pratham Books, Litworld, and Prema. Hip Hip Hurray! Click here for more pics of the event.

We are Happy. More stories Please!