The Reading team’s work for the Neev Literature Festival culminates on the day of the Neev Book Award Retreat as well as the two days of the festival, but the work for this is set into motion as far back as a year or more. It often takes sustained conversations over 2-3 years to block a few of our global delegates' time to be at the festival. This year, we tried a few new ideas at NLF 2024.
Overall, the festival was more student-led with the NLF and NBA Student Co-Chairs Sitara Rishikesh and Sanjana Garg hosting and emceeing the Neev Book Award Retreat. Tanish Ray, the NBA Student Chair, designed a flowchart to help readers settle on which book to read from the NBA shortlist, as well as presented the award to Andaleeb Wajid, the winner of the 2024 Neev Book Award, at the announcement ceremony.
Our student-leaders Rohini Arya, the NLF Design Chair, and Sahasra Nangineni, the NLF Chair designed and printed a Reading Passport that all visitors could get stamped at the festival for the different types of sessions that they attended. The winners stood to receive a badge that the students designed, too They also ran a bookmarks station that was very wellreceived. Two more of our students Aarush Potta and Nikhil Ganesh created a system to run a platform that could help volunteers track how many people were at each venue of NLF
Building on new ideas from last year, we had more exclusive author sessions for the students of Grades 4-8 from Neev Academy, as well as our Spanish students from Grades 9-12, with our global delegates These were linked to some aspects of students’ learning this year.
We also had workshops for parents and professionals with an introduction to Gond Art by the national award-winning artist Bhajju Shyam; a sponsored workshop on children's publishing by Daya Subramanian, managing editor, Daffodil Lane Books; a conversation on what it takes to adapt books for the screen with Sidharth Jain, Adam Gidwitz and Andaleeb Wajid, as well as a session on Teachers as Readers with literacy expert Shailaja Menon
For the core of the festival the book-based programming the NLF team comprising Ms Samantha, Ms Zainab, and Ms Karthika, looked at the details of new releases in the Indian children's book market over the past year and structured sessions based on the content and age group that the books were intended for.
The Reading team tends to become involved in the curation of books for the Marketplace, as well as its execution at the festival this year. Ms Sneha, the Head of the PYP library and a member of the Reading team, was a coordinator for the Marketplace, along with Ms Vanita from the PYP Ms Vinitha, Mr Uttam, Ms Nisha, and Ms Sujata, were volunteers at the Marketplace. Ms Sneha was involved in choosing students to speak at the Retreat as well as the festival, along with Ms Chandni Ms Chandni worked closely with the student and teacher teams on the decor of the festival Ms Arpita was involved with
the Masterclasses while Ms Aparna stepped in to volunteer at the stage, the NLF RC quiz, as well as the Masterclasses Next year, we hope to offer a greater variety of sessions for our older students, as well as working more closely with all our students on familiarizing them with the body of work of particular delegates.
Nothing matters more to a rapidly developing India than children reading and children's writing Nothing in India celebrates children's Literature and childhood, like India’s biggest children’s literature festival the Neev Literature Festival (NLF). We hope that it will continue to create excitement across our community of students, parents, and teachers, next year that rivals what has been done this year
As I am a more recent addition to this school, NLF is an event that has, and will always continue to fascinate me In the past two years, I have had the honor to be its co-chair and chair. This has not only taught me about leadership and organization (although it certainly has) but also given me insight into the true spirit of the event I’ve been able to see the passion for reading that runs red through the veins of every person involved, and this spirit is one of my guiding motivations in my continued engagement with literature. It’s a reminder of why we treasure reading so much, and having a display of that value through this event is a crucial point of reinforcement for me to reflect, engage, and most of all celebrate my love of reading.
This sentiment is something that I hope is kindled in each soul which engages with this event, and is something I have seen to be true in this year’s edition of NLF It was reflected in volunteers who gave up their time to assist with the event, where their efforts came to fruition with the success of each act. It was reflected in the actions of young attendees, with unbridled enthusiasm towards filling up their reading passports, even expressing gratitude towards volunteers who helped them Indeed, it was even reflected in my fellow chairs as we pushed through the days leading up to and during the festival.
This has been a journey since we started putting up posters in bookstores, to competitions and talks with each grade of the school, culminating in the days of the festival themselves. Personally, it has been a fantastic opportunity for me to have new interactions that I likely wouldn’t have had before. Being gifted bookmarks by a second-grade student, getting to know and guide the student volunteers whom I worked with and even being blessed with the opportunity to have conversations with the creators of some of my literary idols, has made being NLF chair a rollercoaster ride that will likely never leave my memory I hope to see NLF only grow from here, and allow people to, of course, stumble upon their next story
SahasraNangineni,Grade11A
The first time NLF was ever held was in 2017, the same year I joined this school I had never been to a literature festival before, and I had no idea what to expect when I walked into the school on the first day of the festival. Some of my most beloved memories on reading and literature revolve around the NLF; for example, attending a session by Tom Watson, author and illustrator of Stick Dog (one of my favorite books at the time), where we learned how to draw the characters from the book Although that was nearly seven years ago, I still remember the conversation, jokes, and activities from that session, and one of my prized possessions still is the signed copy of the drawings we made that day. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I cannot think of a life at Neev without the NLF, as it has become my most anticipated event of the year, and I was overjoyed to be given the opportunity to play a more active role in it.
NLF co-chair
Preparation for the festival began long before the academic year started, with reading the books on the shortlist in the summer break As the date for the festival got closer and closer, the responsibility and work began to increase as well From planning form time discussions about NLF for all the grades, to coordinating with volunteers, and emceeing the NBA retreat, my role culminated with spending around ten or eleven hours at school on both days of the festival. Needless to say, it was hard work, but being aware of the months of planning and logistics that went on behind the scenes by the NLF and Reading team at Neev made me all the more eager to fulfill my role to ensure a successful NLF; and it was not without its benefits. Some of my highlights from this year’s festival were the NBA retreat, specifically, hearing Sophie Blackall and Ed Schmidt talk about Milkwood and listening to Marc Aronson’s fascinating discussion on non-fiction for children, and the NBA Awards Ceremony, where we awaited everyone’s reaction to the winner, despite knowing who won hours prior.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed being NLF student co-chair It was an unforgettable experience that challenged me in many ways, and by doing so helped me grow and face these hurdles.
SitaraRishikesh,Grade11A
NLF Design Chair
This year I was the Design Chair for the Neev Literature Festival. This was a new role introduced to provide students with the opportunity of involving themselves in the festival in a more creative way The expectations of the role were primarily to assist with the decor of the event as well as work with the external team to help set up and produce the decor.
Getting this role was something that I valued a lot, as this event means a lot to me, since it was what helped develop my passion for reading Being a part of the ‘behind the scenes’ part of it allowed me to understand how events like this happened and made me treasure it more since I realised how much effort goes into it on various fronts. My favourite moments were working on designing the photo booth as well as being there to take photos of people visiting it. This allowed me to see people actually enjoy the work that I had put effort in.
Rohini Arya, Grade 11A
NBA
Chair
Aubrey Drake Graham once said, “Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” This perfectly sums up how I felt preparing for NLF 2024. As the NBA chair, I was responsible for reading all the shortlisted books, raising awareness about the festival, organizing competitions to boost engagement, and volunteering to ensure everything ran smoothly When I learned that the structure of the awards would be different this year, with only one book receiving the grand prize, I instantly knew this festival would stand out.
While reading the shortlisted books exploring themes from ambition and societal conflict to partition, representation, and natural disasters I had a strong sense that these stories would resonate with students And I wasn’t wrong This time, in my second year on the student body for NLF, I noticed a significant increase in student engagement with the NBA shortlist.
I also enjoyed working alongside a new team of chairs, co-chairs, and a fresh design chair, each contributing unique ideas like the NLF passport and the alternative ending competition. One of my most memorable moments was presenting the award to Ms. Andaleeb Wajid, this year’s winner a privilege I’ve had the honor of experiencing twice I’m especially grateful for the connections I’ve formed with accomplished authors and publishers from around the world
Reflecting on my experience with NLF, one thing is certain: the festival keeps getting better every year. I’m excited to attend future festivals, even after I graduate, knowing they will continue to surpass expectations.
TanishRay,Grade11B
Although I’ve attended NLF and volunteered in the past, this year’s experience unveiled its true scale and magnitude. I got a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the countless hours spent on planning, communication, and organization that go into hosting such an event Every detail, from badge design to the selection of this year’s Book Award, was meticulously considered, debated, and refined.
I think that ambition and collaboration are what make NLF consistently successful The efforts of student volunteers, the dedication of the reading team, and the partnerships with authors and external organizations culminate in a rich opportunity for everyone not just children to learn from and be inspired by experts I also discovered that NLF features illustrators, actors, reviewers, and more, which highlighted for me the importance of their roles in the publishing process and how they collaborate with authors. Additionally, engaging with the shortlist was a new experience for me As co-chair, I had the responsibility to read the nominated books and delve into their backstories and authors This preparation completely changed my experience at the festival, as I gained a deeper understanding of the authors’ talks and a greater appreciation for the NBA’s commitment to promoting diverse authors, illustrators, and genres for children The NBA plays a vital role in showcasing Indian authors and books, offering children representation in literature and celebrating their culture in ways they might not otherwise encounter.
Overall, I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and plan to stay involved with NLF It truly captures the beauty of literature and reading, and the excitement it brings is hard to replicate. One of the reasons that I joined Neev was due to experiencing NLF beforehand, and I’m glad that we continue to nurture the same magical experience year after year Sanjana Garg, Grade 11A
NBA co-chair
“Starting up and Adulting” ,
How to
“Never Settle” with Andaleeb Wajid
Devangshee Khemka, Grade 8B
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 actually do with our life, our dreams, romance, and even briefly explored a sort of feminist perspective of our lives.
Firstly, we started off by getting to know a little bit about the author She has published 45+ Novels, and writes along the genres of Romance and Horror. She has even gotten her book “Asmara’s Summer” adapted onto Amazon Prime as “Dil Dosti Dilemma”. Wajid shares that she usually doesn’t inspire books off of something in her life, instead she uses each book to know more about herself as an individual. In “The Henna Start Up” however, she tried exploring writing about a young girl, who is unapologetic of her identity and how much it contrasted with herself as an individual.
“When things don’t go your way, what do you do?” Wajid gave us an example of Abir, from “The Henna Start Up”, who uses technology to get justice and stand up for her mother. An underlying theme from this masterclass was to never settle Fight for your dreams, against injustice and don't be afraid to. We also discussed instances in how women are taught to settle which turns out to be generational, with examples of Abir’s mom who tries to hide her talents.
All in all, this session was not only an incredibly interactive one but also an extremely inspirational one, with us learning how to follow our dreams and live life the way we want it
Nostalgia to Now: A Books Filled Childhood and Adulthood with Manu Pillai and Devika Cariapa
Kaavya Sahi, Grade 9C
“There are always words to be heard, words to be said and most importantly, words to be written.” These were the words that shaped the identities of Devika Cariapa and Manu Pillai since their childhoods
This insightful session focused on how books shape us, specifically these two authors from when they were children to when they were older. “Back then, the world was slower and there were less distractions”, Manu mentions, “Our parents produced us and let us grow like fungus on a wall, not really patrolling what we read.” They talked about how they read The Archies, Tinkles Digest and Forbidden comics Though I haven’t read them, I am tempted to start! As the first session of the day, the sky was gray and cloudy yet the event itself was lively I saw people around me of all ages, my age, my parents age, even my grandparents age. They were all equally interested in the talk Each face carried their own memories of reading. Maybe some were born into a world of little technology like Cariapa and Pillai. Maybe some were born into a world of technology and distractions like me Regardless, at that moment, we were all united by the same thoughts, the same connection that books made us happy when we were younger and will continue to do so when we are older.
On-Stage: Anushka Ravishankar's “Moin and the Monster”, Published by Penguin
Random House India
Dhruv Krishnan, Grade 9C
The Art Company's stage version of Anushka Ravishankar's “Moin and the Monster” was a complete joy The performance centered on Moin, a little kid who discovers a monster under his bed, and the adventure that follows as he battles his fear and finally befriends the creature.
In contrast to how monsters are usually presented, which is as scary or horrifying, this presentation turned the monster into a source of endless joy and laughter. The players incorporated humor into every scene, making the youngsters in the audience laugh and giggle uncontrollably, with occasional squeals of delight during brief, exhilarating moments The characters were brought to life and the overall experience was enhanced by the vivid, colorful set and clothing The performers moved across the stage with a joyful energy, launching into small dances and hilarious antics that made the whole audience, especially the younger ones, laugh The children's laughter became an integral element of the show's attractiveness, as their contagious enthusiasm created a participatory aspect to the performance
The show stirred my own youthful curiosity, leaving me wondering, “What will happen to Moin now that he’s befriended the monster?” It served as a happy and comforting reminder that sometimes our greatest friends might really be the things we dread the most
Cultural Bonds with Yuyi Morales
Hana Yenepoya and Aditi Kaila, Grade 11A
Yuyi Morales, an award-winning author and illustrator, shared her journey from Mexico to the United States, where she initially struggled to find a sense of home and cultural connection. She went to a university in Mexico to study physical education, but she took an extension class in UCB, where she met other authors and got inspired. Immigrating while pregnant, she faced the challenge of adapting to a new language and environment, where U.S. publishers found her stories "too scary" for children, particularly those inspired by the rich tradition of Mexican ghost stories.
Despite these obstacles, Morales continued writing, notably using simple Spanish verbs like “I see” (veo), “I find” (encuentro), “I dream” (sueño) in her biography of Frida Kahlo. Coming to the Neev Literature Festival in India was a magical moment for her, where she connected with people who spoke her language, finding a shared cultural bond across continents
Become a Detective! with
Pika Nani
Saanvi Singh, Grade 10B
As said by Albert Einstein, “The pursuit of knowledge is more valuable than its possession.” and walking into Pika Nani’s masterclass on observation and deduction when solving mysteries, we were about to do just that. Deepika Murthy, who goes by her childhood pen name Pika Nani, started the class talking about her journey as a writer and how her first book initiated a career in a dream she had always had. Since then, she has authored several mystery fiction novels for children, including the two Shrilok Homeless volumes Characters are inspired by famous detectives such as Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot to create memorable characters that can introduce young readers to the genre. During the session described how the books from her newer “The Egghead Detective Agency” series have 5 cases within each with ‘Solve it yourself’ clues to engage young readers and give them a chance to put their detective skills to the test.
Everyone’s favorite was the final activity: the logic puzzle. Discussion and laughter filled the classroom and friends discussed and through looking at clues completed a robbery puzzle. What stood out to me the most was how Pika Nani was able to actively involve everyone throughout. In a world in which there is so much to know and yet to discover, curiosity is an important trait which this session brought about in a fun way. Through learning new skills and ways to deduce information everyone walked out of the session as better observers, logicians and thinkers
Dotting and Shading: Gond art with awardwinning artist Bhajju Shyam
Anya Shenoy, Grade 11B
On day two of the workshop, award-winning artist Bhajju Shyam offered participants of all ages the chance to delve into Gond art. Gond art is an ancient Indian traditional art form, birthed by the Gond tribe in Madhya Pradesh This style is characterized by a dotting technique While this is similar to other Western styles like pointillism, Gond art is special due to its depiction of only natural settings, mainly birds, trees and other wildlife
After a brief introduction to the art style as well as some sample drawings it was off to the races, with all the participants painting one of many prompts. All these prompts were nature-based, either a deer or a tree with wildlife surrounding it While the Gond art style does have its own rules, creativity still flowed amongst the participants as they chose color schemes, dotting and shading patterns, figures to draw, etc Bhajju Shyam also helped the participants use his own signature style
After all the participants unveiled their paintings, it was truly a sight to behold While some were professional artisans and others had never held a paintbrush before, each and every painting was beautifully crafted, carrying stories of nature and wildlife Although this is a literature festival, this workshop helped us remember our culture, in a world dominated by digital and modern art, it was a beautiful return to the roots of the tradition
Festival of Books
Vir Singh Kalichapara, Grade 5D
Two days of NLF had finally arrived, Festival of books before the festival of lights When I stepped into a world of words, And that moment of inspiration arrived.
Where authors from far and near, Shared the stories they hold dear. Masterclasses taught me to string my words together, These memories will stay in my heart forever
I learned how books are a window to our culture, And book signings by authors made me feel richer Two days of NLF may have finally ended, But I turn back the pages to relive the Two days of magic, once upon a time.
Your Story
Harman Oberoi, Grade 7D
The air was buzzing, filled with cheer, Learning and fun, both so near From talks to workshops, we explored, In every moment, knowledge soared.
Masterclasses lit up our minds, Inspiration, of every kind. We listened, shared, and grew together, Through ideas that will last forever
The festival was a space to grow, With each interaction, we did know A community built on dreams and care, Where passion and wisdom filled the air.
Now it's your turn to share your view, What inspired and stayed with you? Write it down, let your voice be free, For this issue, it's your story
NLF Reading Challenge
Abhay Reddy Vutukuru, Grade 6A
Neev Literature Festival has many activities such as masterclasses, book talks, author interaction etc. My favorite part of NLF is the Reading Challenge. The reading challenge starts a few months before the festival and ends with a quiz at the NLF. I loved all the books shortlisted and the virtual author interactions The authors are from across the globe, which presents an amazing opportunity. The author interactions allow us to understand the author’s perspective. My team read about 30 books, and I personally read more than 15 books each about 250+ pages across various genres and authors The reading challenge helped increase my pace of reading and improve my collaboration skills. I had to work as a team with my two team members and plan our readings Each of us summarized our books and shared our inputs with our teammates.
The reading challenge has left me with a habit of reading everyday in the morning and evenings. I encourage more kids to explore the reading challenge and get addicted to reading. My favorite book was ‘Impossible Creatures’ and I encourage everyone to read this book
An Ocean Called NLF
Tara Pramod, Grade 4A
NLF is like an ocean of knowledge, with new depths to be discovered each year Just like how by the ocean, you pick up seashells, at NLF, I picked up books
I attended two Sophie Blackall masterclasses and learned the ways of writing and how to put imagination into writing Art flowed onto my paper with her activities and tasks. In Pika Nani’s masterclass, I transformed into a detective and solved murder mysteries and crimes She encouraged us to always observe because you never know what you might find. In Khyrunnisa’s masterclass I saw how humour appears almost everywhere in life and how to apply that in writing. What I gained overall was how observing the world can lead to wonderous stories
NLF is not just about books, it’s also about how reading brings people together Apart from school friends, I met my teachers from Neev Early Years, who brought back so many warm memories It was als friends from my communit it made me feel so proud. O collected my last sea shells showcased a mini rainbow fitting end to a weekend of colourful experiences.
Adventures at NLF
Pahi Arora Chug, Grade 2C
One, two, three… let us see, Let's sit and listen what could it be, Reading takes you places you have never been
Amazing author interactions, Blazing book reads, Pacy Plays, Magical master classes, Where reading takes you places you have never been!
Our Festival of Books
Apsara Jayadev, Grade 9B
Laughter, turned pages, and conversations filled up the school
So many books, a reader could drool Authors around show us new things, So we can write, draw, spread our wings! With all the different genres of books, Different stories in every nook All of us are united for one thing,
All for the love of books!
Photo credit: Darshika Reddy, Grade 1A
How to Write a Bestseller
Aradhya Sagiraju, Grade 3D
I plan to take part in the National Young Authors Fair 2024-25, hosted by Bri Books. So when I heard NLF was coming up, I was elated as I would get to meet and interact with authors and understand ‘what it takes to write a bestseller’. So during the NLF I sought out some authors and I asked them for some tips
While some authors like CG Salamander (author of “From Makaras to Manticores”), said “think of a good topic” to start a story, while others said choose a mysterious story to begin with.
So once you have the central idea of your story, Priyadarshini Gogoi (author of “When We Are Home”) advised to catch the reader’s attention when you write, for which Vaishali Shroff (author of “Breaking Moulds”) suggested adding some details in your story. Also, Indu Balachandran (author of “My Grandmother Can’t Cook”) said “Ensure to add some questions You got to make your readers think!”.
Sometimes when I write, I get caught up in the details and do not know how to end the story, for which the authors suggested to keep on writing till I find a good ending or solution to the mystery You got to leave readers feeling amazed!
Looking Forward, and Looking Back
Vaanya Sureka, Grade 5A
Takeaways from NLF 2024
Raeya
P Aggarwal, Grade 4C
I really look forward to NLF as it is one of my favorite events of the year. Even though I attend every year, this year really stood out to me for many reasons
My key takeaways from the masterclasses were:
1 Seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary
2. Anything can give you inspiration – from objects to animals
3 Four main aspects in a writing voice: the character, illustrative, narrative and author’s voice.
4. Start with a small idea and gradually add details – it will slowly start to look more like a story.
5. You should always play with your writing when stuck
These are just little points, but I think these will help me grow as a stronger writer than I already am Maybe one day I will be one amongst the authors being a part of NLF talking about my work.
In conclusion, I had a most fantastic, super fun time and uncovered a lot attending the masterclasses, book signings, performances and more. But I want to leave one message that I realized as I walked away from school on Sunday: ‘Books don’t open pages, they open minds’
The Neev Literature Festival is a joyful event which brings people together from around the world Each year, the festival brings together a diverse array of authors, illustrators, storytellers, and educators from India and around the world. The event features a rich program of book launches, readings, interactive sessions, workshops, panel discussions, and storytelling sessions, offering something for children of all ages and interests. The sessions, masterclasses and book signings were all exciting as each day a new author came to teach me and encourage me to read new books.
I was looking forward to going to NLF as few of my favorite authors were there like Pika Nani who wrote about the Egghead Detective Agency and also for the award ceremony where authors and illustrators get an award for their amazing books Overall, the NLF taught me a lot about the diversity of books, their meanings, authors and illustrators and that we should respect them for they give us more creativity and a different perspective.
What Made NLF ‘24 Meaningful to You?
Each author's unique style captivated us, making stories come alive. We felt a profound sense of community, united by the love of storytelling.
- Rivaan Bhasin, Grade 8A
Next year will be my final year at Neev, and I already know the festival will be one of the things I’ll miss the most - Siddhant Dravid, Grade 11A
I soaked up all the warmth, all the small talks, all implorations, a dad’s love as he patiently carried a carton full of books for his daughter in the sixth grade, another dad’s silent encouragement as his daughter got six copies of the same book to distribute to all her best friends - it was one of the best days of my life
- Anasuya Ray, Parent Volunteer
I enjoy being a part of NLF because it gives me the opportunity to connect and relate to the books and the authors.
- Meera Tantia, Grade 5D
NLF 2024 provided an opportunity to learn, unlearn and rethink, not just to us, but to students from various schools, parents, teachers and authors. It was and always will be an ensemble of wisdom that fosters the very Neev of our community.
