With a story that's endearing as it is thought-provoking, The Best Idea of All is a delightful chapter book that is perfect for readers graduating from picture books.
Join us for the official launch on Saturday at 11:00 AM and have a lively interaction with author Varsha Seshan about water conservation, colours, and everything in between!
The special weekend batch of my online reading programme for ages seven and eight is back! In this programme, we have eight online interactions, during which we read excerpts from five books. We also do activities based on reading, creative writing, and linking books to life skills.
This time, we will read five books - Sandy to the Rescue, The Chocolate Touch, and a three-in-one collection, The Absolutely True Adventures of Daydreamer Dev.
The Clockwala's Clues has been shortlisted for the Neev Book Award for Emerging Readers 2021! Join us for a panel discussion on 'Growing Boundaries: Relationships, Neighbourhoods and Questions'.
This panel is part of a larger event - the announcement of the Neev Book Awards 2021. It begins with a keynote address by Ruskin Bond and ends with the award ceremony.
Writing nonfiction usually involves a certain amount of research, whether we're writing book reviews or travelogues. Does research have to be daunting and dull? What kind of research is required when we create brochures or photo essays? What do we need to do to prepare for an interview?
As this is a guest session at my writing programme, participants who are part of my current batches will be part of it at no additional cost. However, this session is also open to non-participants on payment of a fee.
The next writing workshop is here! It will be conducted by Lav Kanoi - actor and musician, writer and translator, anthropologist and academic. Lav is currently doing his PhD at Yale. He is an experienced translator and has published translations from Latin to English, and from Bengali and English to Hindi.
Why do we tell stories out loud? How does one read a script? And how does one script a story? These are some of the questions Lav will address.
'Staging a Script' is a guest session at my writing programme, and those who are part of my current batches will join it at no additional cost. However, this session is also open to non-participants on payment of a fee.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME! But they're open for the December edition. Scroll down to learn more!
At this programme, we have twelve online interactions, during which we read excerpts from four books. We also do activities based on reading, creative writing, and linking books to life skills. Do note that there are only nine seats per batch!
This time, we will read The Vampire Boy, Cricket for the Crocodile, Rise of the Earth Dragon (Dragon Masters #1) and Rattu & Poorie's Adventures in History - 1857.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME! But they're open for the December edition. Scroll down to learn more!
The weekend batch of my online reading programme for ages seven and eight continues! At this programme, we have eight online interactions, during which we read excerpts from four books. We also do activities based on reading, creative writing, and linking books to life skills. Do note that there are only nine seats per batch!
This time, we will read The Vampire Boy, Cricket for the Crocodile, Rise of the Earth Dragon (Dragon Masters #1) and Rattu & Poorie's Adventures in History - 1857.
This creative writing workshop on art, music and movement takes a unique look at the ways in which different disciplines and inspirations come together when we write.
What do you think? Does the way we move our bodies affect our creative process? Does the art we look at and the music we listen to impact the way we think?
Although this workshop is free for those who are part of my current creative writing programmes, it is also open to non-participants on payment of a fee.
It will be conducted by Veda Aggarwal, a performance art curator and yoga practitioner.
THIS BATCH IS SOLD OUT! Registrations are now closed for this programme.
This 12-week online creative writing programme is for ages 9 to 11. We will explore creative non-fiction, drama and stories together. The fee includes 12 online interactions, up to three guest sessions, and access to a private forum, where participants share their work and receive detailed feedback several times a week.
Do note that there are only six seats per batch!
THIS BATCH IS SOLD OUT! The next creative writing programme for this age-group will begin in April 2022.
This 12-week online creative writing programme is for ages 12 to 14. We will explore creative non-fiction, drama and stories together. The fee includes 12 online interactions, up to three guest sessions and access to a private forum, where participants share their work and receive detailed feedback several times a week.
Do note that there are only six seats per batch!
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME. New batches begin every alternate month. Watch this page for updates!
Join the December edition of my online reading programme for ages seven and eight! At this programme, we have twelve online interactions, during which we read excerpts from four books. We also do activities based on reading, creative writing, and linking books to life skills. Do note that classes are held on Zoom and that there are only nine seats per batch!
This time, we will read Mira the Detective, The Adventures of Mooli and the Sticker Trickster, Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom and A Very Naughty Dragon.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME. New batches begin every alternate month. Watch this page for updates!
My regular reading programme for ages nine and ten is back! This programme combines the concept of a book club with an introduction to creative writing. During the 12 online interactions, we read excerpts from three books and do activities of all kinds. Every two weeks, one class is devoted to creative writing.
This time's books are - Manolita, The Butterfly Lion and The Golden Eagle.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME. New batches begin every alternate month. Watch this page for updates!
Join the December edition of my weekend book club for ages seven and eight! At this programme, we have eight online interactions, during which we read excerpts from four books. We also do activities based on reading, creative writing, and linking books to life skills. Do note that classes are held on Zoom and that there are only nine seats per batch!
This time, we will read Mira the Detective, The Adventures of Mooli and the Sticker Trickster, Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom and A Very Naughty Dragon.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME. New batches begin every alternate month. Watch this page for updates!
At this reading programme, we have twelve online interactions, during which we read excerpts from four books. We also do activities based on reading, creative writing, and linking books to life skills. Do note that classes are held on Zoom and that there are only nine seats per batch!
This time, we will read Peanut vs the Piano, The School is Alive, My Father's Dragon and Adventure on Wheels.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME. New batches begin every alternate month. Watch this page for updates!
My regular reading programme for ages nine and ten is back! This programme combines the concept of a book club with an introduction to creative writing. During the 12 online interactions, we read excerpts from three books and do activities of all kinds. Every two weeks, one class is devoted to creative writing.
This time's books are - Paati Goes Viral, About Average and Flyaway Boy.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME. New batches begin every alternate month. Watch this page for updates!
At this reading programme, we have eight online interactions, during which we read excerpts from four books. We also do activities based on reading, creative writing, and linking books to life skills. Do note that classes are held on Zoom and that there are only nine seats per batch!
This time, we will read Peanut vs the Piano, The School is Alive, My Father's Dragon and Adventure on Wheels.
Kukdukoo Lit Fest features a stellar lineup of authors, educators and storytellers at a celebration of children's literature at its finest. Join us as we explore all kinds of stories in a variety of forms.
Author Varsha Seshan will be conducting two events at the festival. One is based on 'Sisters at New Dawn', a book for middle-grade readers published by Zubaan Books, and the other is about 'The Best Idea of All', a chapter book for young readers published by Karadi Tales.
At this one-hour workshop, get started with the basics of comic-making with tips and tricks from Greystroke. Learn to make a 4-panel comic strip during the session!
Greystroke (aka Shyam Madhavan Sarada) is a writer, illustrator, art director, photographer and filmmaker with a deep love for potatoes, a degree in Zoology and an MBA in Marketing and Advertising. He loves cooking without recipes, motivational speaking, and software technology stuff; not necessarily in that order.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME. In the first week of May, you can register for the programmes beginning in June.
The weekday batch for ages seven and eight comprises 12 online interactions (45 minutes each), during which we read excerpts from four books. Based on what we read, we build links with other activities, including listening, performing, writing and critical thinking. Do note that classes are held on Zoom and that there are only nine seats per batch!
This time, we will read Malhar in the Middle, Koobandhee, The Reading Race and Ghosts Don't Eat.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME. In the first week of May, you can register for the programmes beginning in June.
This programme combines the concept of a book club with an introduction to creative writing. During the 12 online interactions, we read excerpts from three books and do activities of all kinds. Every two weeks, one class is devoted to creative writing.
This time's books are A Big Splash, Dear Mr. Henshaw and Nimmi's Dreadtastic Detective Days.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME. In the first week of May, you can register for the programmes beginning in June.
The weekend batch for ages seven and eight comprises eight online interactions (one hour each), during which we read excerpts from four books. Based on what we read, we build links with other activities, including listening, performing, writing and critical thinking. Do note that classes are held on Zoom and that there are only nine seats per batch!
This time, we will read Malhar in the Middle, Koobandhee, The Reading Race and Ghosts Don't Eat.
A children’s book writer based in Pune, India, Varsha Seshan is no stranger to the Asian literary scene having published four picture books, two chapter books, three middle-grade books, and two collections of short stories. Her work, Red Eyes, was a finalist at the 2018 Scholastic Asian Book Awards.
Join the Scholastic Asia Virtual Book Launch on May 28, 2022 (11:30 am to 12:30 pm IST) as Varsha gives audiences an insight into Red Eyes.
At this one-hour workshop, learn about zines, explore how we select what to illustrate and then move on to the planning and execution of an illustration.
As this is a guest session at my writing programme, participants who are part of my current batches will be part of it at no additional cost. However, this session is also open to non-participants on payment of a fee.
During the one-hour interaction, Daphne Lee, consulting editor at Scholastic Asia, will tell us what it means to be an editor. How is a book made? How does editing work? As this event is an opportunity to get answers to your questions about publishing, rather than a workshop, come prepared with whatever you would like to ask!
As this is a guest session at my writing programme, participants who are part of my current batches may join at no additional cost. However, the event is also open to non-participants on payment of a fee.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAMME. I conduct writing programmes only twice a year - from April to June, and from October to December, so registrations will reopen in September 2022.
This 12-week course is for ages nine to 11. We will put together an e-magazine, for which we will explore poems and stories, working on feedback and the process of editing and rewriting. The fee includes 12 online interactions, up to three guest sessions and access to a private forum, where participants share their work.
Do note that there are only six seats per batch!
