At the Oxford Subscription Company Bookstore – The Storyteller in Kolkata, Actor, Author and Activist Nandana Dev Sen interacted with children from five different Montessori schools from across the city. Students from ‘I Play I Learn’, ‘Mongrace Montessori’, ‘Leap Years’, ‘Verbeena School’ and ‘Swarnim School’ sat through two different sessions as Nandana spoke about her titles ‘Mambi and the Forest Fire’, ‘Talky Tumble of Jungle Farm’ and ‘Not Yet’.
Nandana who earlier began the day by cutting a ribbon to inaugurate the event was as always, delighted to be in the company of children who she referred to as ‘her young friends.’ She conducted fun-filled activities for 70 children that included a short films, ‘pin the tail’ and made children wear masks mimicking animal sounds. Parents, Children, and teachers were then invited to speak to her who also autographed copies of her titles for the gathering.
Actor-activist-writer Nandana Dev Sen says authors can find emotionally safe ways of making kids more aware of the world they live in. She said, “Writing for children grew naturally out of having worked with kids for years, in child protection. Children, no matter their history, bring such wonder into your life, and make you re-think so much that you take for granted. So many stories built up in me over the years, that I knew I had to consciously make the time to start writing them down. I am also blessed with seven wonderful nephews and nieces (to whom Mambi is dedicated), who are a constant source of inspiration”.
Mambi and the Forest Fire is a must read for all children as well as parents, who will thoroughly enjoy not only the rich language used to create a wonderful story, but also enjoy the beautiful illustrations. Talky tumble of the Jungle firm she has dedicated to her father Nobel laureate Economist Amartya Sen.
Held in collaboration with the Early Childhood Association (ECA) Kolkata Chapter, the occasion was part of a yearlong series of events held by the bookstore to promote reading among children.
The store has planned various author interactions in the coming months and hopes to organize a literature festival for children in the month December later in the year. Oxford Subscription Company The Storyteller Bookstore is a standalone retail store specializing in Children’s book. a 1500 sq feet store on the EM Bypass housing over 70,000 titles at a time. They specialize in schoolbook fairs. The company is owned and operated by Mayura Misra, who has been in the business for 20 years.
