Winning Big
by Agastya Awasthi, Grade 11 “Palwankar Baloo wanted a chance for everyone” – Mamta Nainy Mamta Nainy’s session, ‘Winning Big’, based on her book Baloo’s Big Win, was one that took me aback in a good way. The mood of the lawn was electric: kids’ eyes gleaming with interest and delight as they listened to […]
We, the People of India
by Alisha Patil, Grade 11 ‘We, the People of India’ was a session that happened at the Kathashala on Day 1 of NLF. Featuring Ashok Rajagopalan, the illustrator of 5 Fantastic Facts about the Indian Constitution, this session’s purpose was to make the history and ways of our people accessible to young children, between the […]
Non-Fiction Now
by Naman Shastri, Grade 10 What does it mean for non-fiction to be “more than just a matter of fact”? Nadine Bailey and Katie Day, veterans of the Neev Literature Festival and jury members of the Neev Book Award, set out to answer this question in their session ‘Non-Fiction Now.’ Both speakers, drawing on their […]
Avian Antics
by Adarshini Chandrakanth, Grade 11 The ‘Avian Antics’ masterclass, conducted by author and wildlife advocate Rohan Chakravarty, was a spirited session that left a strong impression on young readers and nature lovers to continue keeping their fervour for feathered beings alive. Mr. Rohan began the session by asking the audience what birds meant to them, […]
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 […]
Tracing Our Story River
by Naman Shastri, Grade 9 It takes talent to have a conversation so insightful and opinionated that the only sounds coming from an audience deep in thought are laughs acknowledging casual and effective humour. Sam Leith, author of Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading, and Dr. Devika Rangachari, historian and author of various works […]
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 […]
Crafting Stories, One Panel At A Time
by Samaira Gupta, Grade 8 Tell me you haven’t caught yourself doodling on the back of your math notebook or the back of your hand. Well, same: I have always been intrigued by comics and how these illustrations portray so much with little to no words, and when I saw the name of the workshop […]
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 […]