DISCOVERIES ON READ A BOOK DAY

Keerthi’s excited chatter wouldn’t stop. “A whole day devoted to reading books. Glorious! Our class is so lucky to be the one having a turn to celebrate ‘Read-a-Book Day’ this year.”

- Kanchana Rao

“Really lucky!” her friend Dhanush said, rolling his eyes.

Unfazed, Keerthi continued, “Last year, my neighbour, Riya’s class, were the lucky ones and she told me how much fun they had.”

“Another book-crazy girl, this Riya,” Neeta told all their friends.

Without even noticing, Keerthi went on, “And Ms. Smita is such a sport. She voluntarily takes a batch of students every year to the central library. Riya said she patiently spent time with all the students, reading with them, suggesting an interesting book …”

“What I am interested in is the picnic lunch. We are permitted to eat on the lawn on mats spread out …” started Manish happily.

“While reading a book,” interrupted Keerthi.

Ignoring her, Manish continued, “My mom has promised to make my favourite aloo parathas and chole. What are you bringing, Avanthika?”

“Idlis soaked in idli powder, sweet seviya …”

“Hey folks, this is a Read-a-Book Day and not an Eat-What-You-Like Day!” said Keerthi, annoyed.

“You can read a book, and we will enjoy our picnic,” retorted Dhanush. “Honestly, I cannot understand why you are so crazy about them. Your favourite day is the one when we have a library period. You are allowed to borrow only one book, so you make us all borrow one of your choice, and you end up reading five books a week! You are always discussing authors, Enid Blyton, Nancy Drew, Jane Austen, Ruskin Bond …”

“But that’s a good thing,” said Keerthi.

“Yes, it is. But it is boring for people like us who are not that fond of books,” Dhanush complained. “All this fiction and the plots! I like facts and things related to real life.”

“You will find books on that, too, and more in the central library. Our school library caters to only one genre of books. Just wait till you see how many genres there are there.”

“Will there be one on the 9/11 attacks?”

“Anything on crafts and embroidery designs?”