Book Mark Resource Centre for Children is the new address in town where kids can read story books, write their own tales, do some drawing if they so want or do craft.
It is also a place where they will get a chance to meet interesting grown ups such as illustrator and author Ashok Rajagopalan, who was here recently to inaugurate the resource centre. Ashok came with his book Gajapati Kulapati, Kalabalooosh . It is his second book, the first being the incredibly cute Gajapati Kulapati where the temple elephant catches a big cold as he has a big nose! Ashok read that out with spectacular sound effects of loud sneezes much to the appreciation of his audience of kids of all shapes, sizes and ages. And some grown-ups too.
Ashok then showed a step-by-step and ridiculously easy way to draw a cute elephant, and the kids followed his instructions and came up with their own portraits of Gajapati.
Then, Ashok’s latest, Gajapati Kulapati, Kalabalooosh, was read out with active audience participation, after which every kid got a copy of it.
Finally, Ashok welcomed ideas for more Gajapati Kulapati stories from his audience. And, invited them to write them for him. He said he would share tips that might make their stories interesting and easy to write ( see box ).
The launch party wound up with an announcement for the children and their guardians of the various activities Book Mark would undertake in the future. Children were invited to join the library. Grandparents were urged to enrol grandkids who visited them on vacations.
A puppetry workshop is being planned for the month of June. This will be followed by a programme on storytelling in July.
On a mission to read
Archana Dange and V. Lakshmikanthan of Book Mark say: In addition to being a library, Book Mark is also a book store with books ranging from Rs. 20 to Rs.80. It organises programmes for children related to puppetry, art & craft, creative writing, etc. It is also a resource centre for teachers and trainers who can help design more creative teaching activities. The library is the stockist for Pratham Books, as part of its Read India Campaign.
Schools and parents who wish to buy books for children may contact us for their publications. These books are differentiated as per reading levels.
Therefore, a younger child who has been exposed to more reading would possibly be at a higher reading level than an elder child. The centre will also celebrate book week, famous authors’ birthdays, parenting sessions and organise career guidance capsules.
To know more call: 98940-40227 / 98941-10066.
How to write a good story
GK is an elephant; use his big size, trunk and tusks in the story
There must be action; jump, run, splash, thump
Use a lot of sound words; whoosh, plish, plosh, (and if you can, make them sound Indian)
GK is a kind elephant; so no one is bad and all the people in the books are nice
Big people are only helpers; they have no names…grandmother, aunt, postman…
Every kid from Kindergarten to class six should be able to read and understand
Include a cow; a cow always makes everything funnier
Everybody should live happily ever after
