New Delhi | February 1, 2025: The World Book Fair commenced today at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, Delhi, and will continue till February 9. The fair is bustling with books in every hall and stall, drawing large crowds from day one. Everywhere, book lovers could be seen browsing and purchasing their favorite books. However, the most vibrant section of the fair is the Children’s Pavilion in Hall No. 6, which is filled with young readers. The Children’s Book Trust stall at W-21 in Hall No. 6 witnessed a significant number of visitors.
The CBT stall features a wide range of books in English and Hindi. In Hindi, including Panchatantra Tales, Dadi Maa Ki Kahaniyan (Grandmother’s Stories), and many more, capturing the attention of young readers. Meanwhile, in English, books like Best Friends, Barber at the Zoo, and Chhotu Seen Unseen are among the engaging titles attracting children and book lovers alike.
This year CBT will also be launching a 20,000 sq ft Shankar’s International Children’s Centre in Delhi where it plans to have Meeting Rooms, Activity Centre for Clay Modelling, Painting etc, Congregational Halls, Art Gallery for paintings received during previous Painting competitions, Venue for its On-The-spot Competition, Doll’s Workshop, etc and to have cultural and artistic exchanges between groups of children from different parts of India or abroad and expatriates.
Mr. Kishore Lal, Chairman, Children’s Book Trust says, “We need to help Children to stay away from screens of portable electronic devices and come back to reading good books. Books usually generate a deeper spirit of enquiry in young minds and a healthy, progressive outlook to life and living.” He continued to add, “We have had our presence internationally through our books which we sell in many countries, with the coming up of our SICC, we would like to have them here physically. We are a non-profit trust and our aim is not to make huge profits but to spread awareness about the benefits of growing up with good books.”