Wordless Warmth
by Ira S Kapany, Grade 6, and Riddhi Mantri, Grade 7 In the Masterclass ‘Wordless Warmth,’ author-illustrator Ogin Nayam introduced the audience to his wordless picture book When the Sun Sets, shortlisted for the 2025 Neev Book Award. He noted how everything was left to the reader’s interpretation in wordless picture books, how the ideas […]
Feeling Shy, Feeling Brave
by Pranat Jain, Grade 12 In the session ‘Feeling Shy, Feeling Brave,’ Rishita Loitongbam engaged with audiences ranging from 6-year-old students to teachers and fellow authors. In her own language of visual metaphors and imagery, Ms. Rishita explained how pictures and colors can be used to depict one’s sentiments. The book Thoithoi Feels Shy is […]
Shifting Perspectives
by Arianna Sethi, Grade 10 Aparna Kapur’s Masterclass ‘Shifting Perspectives’ at the Neev Literature Festival 2025, highlights the importance of how different perspectives work together and enhance a story. In her book An Absence of Squirrels, the main character is a 12-year-old girl named Katli, who has seven different personalities, with different thoughts, opinions, and […]
Make Some Noise
by Kabir Singh, Grade 9 At the whimsical session ‘Make Some Noise’, author Vibha Batra helped remind us that books aren’t just about what we see, but can also portray what we hear, smell, touch, or even taste on an everyday basis. We often focus solely on visual imagery, forgetting how powerfully other senses shape […]
Good Friends and Marvellous Mix-Ups
by Aadya Gupta, Grade 7 In his session ‘Good Friends and Marvellous Mix-Ups’ at the Neev Literature Festival 2025, author Neil Flory was able to draw the audience into a world of laughter, music, and imagination. The children were immediately curious as he began with playful questions, inviting them to share their thoughts and join […]
Yuyi Morales: Inspiring Creativity Without Borders / Yuyi Morales: Inspirando Creatividad sin Fronteras
by Rini Ghosh, Educator Yuyi Morales, a captivating voice in the world of children’s literature, gifted us with an unforgettable afternoon. The renowned Mexican-American author shared her inspiring journey as a writer and illustrator, leaving an indelible mark on everyone present. Since her arrival in the United States, Yuyi has faced the challenge of adapting […]
Shabnam Minwalla’s Perfect Murders
by Devangshee Khemka, Grade 8 In the masterclass “Perfect Murders”, led by former Neev Book Award winner Shabnam Minwalla, we explored why she enjoys writing murder mysteries so much, what is so thrilling about the writing process of a murder mystery, how to write a murder mystery, and even got an opportunity to craft one […]
Fairytales, with a Climate Twist
by Amishi Daga, Grade 8 Most of us grew up listening to fairy tales such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty, recorded by the Grimm Brothers during the early 19th century. The world has evolved since then and the environment in which those narratives are set in no longer exists. Due to decades of rapid […]
Living Like an Emperor: The Mughals and Their World
by Kaavya Sahi, Grade 9 The Mughals were a prominent dynasty that ruled the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century. They are renowned for their warrior spirit, cultural richness, grandeur, and vibrant way of life. The dynasty seems worlds apart from our lives today; our routines, habits, and outlook vastly different from […]
Starting up and Adulting: How to Never Settle, with Andaleeb Wajid
By Devangshee Khemka, Grade 8 In the masterclass “Starting up and Adulting” led by 2024 Neev Book Award winner Andaleeb Wajid, we were able to get to know the author better, and discuss what to do with our life, our dreams, romance, and even briefly explored a sort of feminist perspective of our lives. We […]