For 20 years , Karadi Tales, one of the most well-known children’s publishing company, has ignited the love for reading. Set up in 1996, by a group of writers, musicians and educators. At the helm of affairs is co-founder and publishing director of Karadi Tales Company, Shobha Viswanath. She speaks passionately of the deep commitment Karadi Tales has towards children’s learning. She doesn’t agree that the love of reading has dwindled among children with the advent of the internet and video games. “Children continue to read,” she emphasises in a telephonic interview.
According to Karadi Tales, they have sold more than 100,000 copies, and each title of Karadi Tales has gone into reprint in less than 12 months of its release.
They have also brought together some of India's finest artistes including Naseeruddin Shah, Gulzar, Girish Karnad, Usha Uthup, Nandita Das, Nassar, Manna Dey, Udit Narayan, SP Balasubramaniam, Shankar Mahadevan, Vidya Balan, Jaaved Jaaferi, Boman Irani and many more, to narrate their audio books.
Though Shobha agrees that publishing formats have changed over the years, and that Karadi Tales has updated themselves accordingly. “We started with books with cassettes. And we have audio books. Today, we have USBs.”
The publisher goes on to add that audio books have in fact been proven to facilitate reading. “Audio books provide a cue to the child to follow the narrator. It is a phenomenal catalyst.”
Karadi Tales has consistently published quality books, spanning a range of titles.
“Our books have evolved. We have books that are fun, yet tackle topics such as gender and disabilities. All this is a result of working with new and emerging authors."
For their 20th Anniversary, Karadi Tales has lined up the release of several new titles. Shobha adds among the most interesting titles is Varsha’s Varanasi written by Chitra Soundar and photo illustrated by Soumitra Ranade, and of course, the eagerly-awaited theatrical production Karadi Rhymes- Once Upon a Bak Bak Tree that will feature Usha Uthup.
For more details on Karadi Tales, visit their website: http://www.karaditales.com/
