A wide collection of books has been neatly arranged on the wooden shelves and metal racks that run along the hall.
Besides mythology, fiction, romance, horror and a bunch of personality development and self-help books, a large section of titles kept at the fair cater to children. They include fairy tales, moral stories and detective stories along with drawing, colouring and activity books.
The annual ‘summer book fest’ hosted by Himamsu Book Depot at Viswapriya function, Beach Road aims at reviving the declining reading culture among school-going children in particular.
Rummaging through a bundle of books, K. Likshitha, Class VI student of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, was seen picking up a few science fiction stories. “Reading improves my imagination and that’s how I prefer spending my summer vacation apart from playing board games with my friends and family members,” she says. Parents who wanted to keep their kids away from gadgets and television find the book festival as a right platform.
“If I could make my son to read for at least 30 minutes a day, it’s a big achievement as he is so glued to the television screen. If he is not in front of the television, he is busy playing smartphone games,” rues M. Varalakshmi, entrepreneur, who headed to the billing counter to pack a few books for her son.
Cultural programmes
The fair also provides the much needed stage for children to bring out their inherent talent such as storytelling and putting their imagination to good use in the form of painting and essay writing, picking up any theme of their choice. “Soon, academic experts will address students at the venue on topics such as personality development and Vaidika Vignana Vipanchi cultural association will stage cultural programmes in the evening,” says K.V.S.K. Prasad, proprietor of the book depot.
In addition to two-plus-one offer, a discount of 10% to 50% is offered on select books.
The on-going fair will remain open from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. till June 15.
