Shishu Prohor, special hours dedicated to children, has captured the attention of the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair.
Children were found entering the fairground with excitement yesterday morning, holding their parents’ hands. They were enjoying and jumping on the stage at Shishu Chattar (Children’s Square).
The live performance by the Sisimpur team, a famous educational children’s television series, among others, was the key attraction for the children. Along with that, there were arrangements for children and teenagers, which included drawing, music, and recitation competitions.
Children were seen busy choosing books. Mohammad Sadid Bin Alam, a 6th-grade student at Samsul Haque School and College, said, “I came here along with my parents. I love to read detective stories. I have taken a book named Reja Sir’er Gayenda School.
Earlier, I enjoyed the Sisimpur show. Halum is my favourite character.” Shuchismita Biswas, a little
girl from Azimpur Colony’s Little Angels' School, was a participant in the drawing competition. She was searching for a book named Taranath Tantrik. “I love to read ghost stories,” she said.
According to the concerned persons, the sales are going well. Jobainahar Jui, a salesperson for the children’s book publisher Ghashforing, said, “The books by Anisul Haque and Ahsan Habib are getting good sales, specifically Guddubabur Golpo by Anisul Haque, Chotoder Schooler Golpo, and Neel Downe First Boy by Ahsan Habib.”
“The pop-up books, a type of book that has three-dimensional pages, are capturing the children’s attention,” said Ashrar Masud, the publisher of Progoti Publishers’. Publishing house Babui’s publisher, Kader Babu, said, “Children are mostly choosing mystery stories, detective stories, and fairy tales.”
Abul Kalam Azad, a guardian, said, “In this era of social media, children are being self-centred. I brought my children here to introduce them to books and an open environment.”
Every Friday and Saturday, weekly holidays, Shishu Prohor starts at 11 am and continues till 1 pm.
