Literary Keepsakes—Linda Sue Park

By Aditi Garg, Grade 11 “What’s the one thing you’d save in a fire (family and pets excluded)?” Through her short 45-minute masterclass, Linda Sue Park created a session filled with engaging activities, thought-provoking questions, and witty retorts. She began by introducing herself as a Korean-American and delved into the intricacies of her life, which […]

The Power of Editing in Children’s Books

By Aditi Kaila, Grade 11 I had the pleasure of attending Sudeshna Shome Ghosh’s masterclass, “Snipping Words, Moulding Tales”, which explored what exactly a children’s book editor does. Sudeshna, a publisher at Talking Cub, took the audience through what it takes to edit a children’s book, and highlighted the various aspects of changing these books. […]

Patterns Patterns Patterns—Piquing Interest

By Anya Shenoy, Grade 11 Patterns are fundamental in our world, shaping nature, art, and behavior. They offer predictability and beauty, from the symmetry of snowflakes to the rhythm of music. Understanding patterns enriches our comprehension of systems and helps us find order in the randomness of life. Patterns may vary from simple to complex, […]

Writing History: A Masterclass with Devika Cariapa

By Sanjana Garg, Grade 11 Author Devika Cariapa joined us at NLF 2023 to give a masterclass on the intricacies of writing history. Her book, India Through People: 25 Game Changers, was the focus of her class. Her book is about individuals—women and men with the vision, fortitude, and resolve to leave a mark—who powered […]

Spotlight on Small Moments—Chatura Rao

By Navin Agarwal, Educator Acclaimed author Chatura Rao, known for her captivating books such as Music for Joshua, The Case of Disappearing Colour, and Growing up in Pandupur, took the audience on a literary journey, emphasizing how little things can lead to big discoveries in her books. Chatura began her session by introducing her latest […]

Inverting Stereotypes with Venita Coelho

By Ashika Thusu, Educator Participants of this masterclass walked into a room set up with a long sheet of white plotter paper, chalk pastels, and pencils. Venita Coelho read excerpts from her book, Dungeon Tales, throughout the session, choosing funny and intriguing sections that held the children spellbound. In the book, a girl who doesn’t […]

Building Thrilling Eco-Fiction with Nayanika Mahtani

By Ashika Thusu, Educator This masterclass sensitized the audience—mostly 11 years of age—to the astonishing facts of poaching in India and across the world. In her conversation with students, Nayanika Mahtani passionately and firmly put across the disturbing facts of poaching, with a focus on tigers.   The author shared her journey of how she came […]

Be a Mind-Ninja with Roopa Pai

By Jyothsana Narasimhan, Educator In a world filled with distractions and fast-paced living, the ancient practice of yoga offers a pathway to mindfulness and inner peace. Roopa Pai‘s The Yoga Sutras for Children is a remarkable book that introduces young readers to the profound wisdom of Maharishi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras in a way that is […]

Renée Watson Unveils the Magic of Poetry

By Vaishali Basu, Educator As the sun dipped low on the second day of the Neev Literature Festival, Stage #2 resonated with the vibrant energy of words as Renée Watson took the stage for “Poetry that Speaks to Multiple Identities.” A champion of celebrating the ordinary, Renée shared insights into her poetic philosophy, urging the […]

Vaccines for Smartypants—Anushka Ravishankar

By Diya Shetty, Grade 11 As noon struck on the first day of NLF 2023, an ebullient group of Smartypants fans awaited their Masterclass with Anushka Ravishankar, award-winning author of numerous books, Vaccines for Smartypants being the latest. Anushka began by discussing her creation of a character like Smartypants the cat. There were parallels with […]