Pratham Books Champion : Prasanntiha Rao and Krishnav Hanumanthu

For International Literacy Day (8th September), we had a dream - we wished that 100 people would volunteer to conduct storytelling sessions across the country. We ended up finding more than 250 champions to conduct storytelling sessions across the country. We will be sharing the stories of all our champions through our blog.

This story was sent to us by Prasanntiha Rao.

Storytelling session on 8th September, 2012

I found about the story telling event on twitter and jumped at the opportunity. Pratham books couried me the package within a week of me sending them a email of interest. The kit had a poster of the initiative the book Susheels's Kolam by Sridala swami and illustrated by Priya Kurien in English and Hindi and we got an extra 5 books!

I zeroed down doing two events one at a street school for slum children and the other at my sons school.

So we fixed a time at the street school at 9.30 in the morning on Saturday. My 5 year old and me went prepared with the books some paper and colour pens and some sweets. The kids were waiting for us, they helped us put up the poster. Their primary language being Hindi I first told the story in Hindi. It's interesting how each page can become a education. What is the word 'Kolam' was explained then as we went along number of states were discussed Tamil NAdu was placed in their imaginary picture of India. The three different defense forces were discussed. We then explained that air force performs ceremonial shows with colours on special days. All key words were explained in English too. All this with the help of the kind lady who comes 6 days a week for 4 hours to run a English medium school for the transient work force which services Gurgaon. I then told the story in English and this was much more fun because I could emote comfortably and pull them into the world of Susheela's!

We then had a kolam drawing session. I dint want to point out 1st or 2nd as it would not be fun for the rest. The kids though on guard in the beginning relaxed along the way and answered many questions put to them about the story. When assumptions were made that they wouldn't know a few facts they were not shy to point out and correct us! All the remaining story books were left behind for them enjoy later.

My son helped me with clicking pics, distributing paper, colour pens and sweets enjoying the responsibility.

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Storytelling session on 10th September, 2012

Susheela's kolam story telling and activity was conducted at Shiv Nadar School in Gurgaon.

I did a session today morning for KG class. All the children enjoyed it. Props were used to show tall buildings, train and an airforce jet.

Finally Kolam prints were given to be coloured to each child and what colours came off it!!

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Thank you Prasanntiha and Krishnav  for spreading the joy of reading!

View more pictures from the International Literacy Day Celebrations.

This blog contains stories sent in by all our champions. Browse through the blog for more stories. You can also go through the tags on the right side of the blog to find stories happening in your own city.

Note : If any of you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at web(at)prathambooks(dot)org.