One little planet, two little planets, three little planets...’ went the rhyme, as tiny tots below four years sat around a table quietly and learned about the eight different planets in the solar system. At the first anniversary celebrations of Pappadum, a children’s specialty store, kids got to learn about planets, adorable monsters and more, with the two book reading sessions organised as part of their celebrations.
Author Prabha Ram, read out from the book ‘Party in the Sky’. The picture book narrated a story about the eight planets in the solar system, which was enacted by the kids on the spot, making it a cheerful learning experience for them and their parents.
Ram is the author of children’s books ‘Subbu The Signal’ and ‘Dina Ben and the Lions of Gir’.
Written by Jane D’Suza and illustrated by Prashant Miranda, another tome in verse form, earned great reviews from the kids. ‘Moin and the Monster’, aimed at a slightly older crowd was all about the madness of a lovable monster who delighted in eating bananas, trying out crazy hairstyles and generally making Moin’s life upside down.
This ‘comedy of errors’ is written by Anushka Ravishankar. “We had two new books to introduce to our children and since this was Pappadum’s first birthday, we thought it would be a wonderful idea to do both together,” said Harini Lakshminarayan, who co-founded Pappadum with friend Priyanka Raghunath.
Pappadum stocks out-of-the-way books for children, accessories, clothing; a mixed bag with just about everything that would appeal to little children.
“The books we stock here at Pappadum are handpicked for early readers so as to help them learn as they grow up. They are the type of books from independent authors and publishers that tend to let lost on the shelves of huge bookstores,” said Raghunath.
Lakshminarayan chimed in to say, “Most of the artists and writers featured here are parents who float small, independent brands.They know what they are looking for, in terms of clothes or accessories for children and so they are able to come up with it by themselves.”
As the evening ended, several young ones dozed off with a belly full of birthday cake and thoughts of friendly monsters and red planets. Pappadum’s first anniversary celebrations was ‘monsterful’, indeed.