Little Readers' Nook

Thoughtful & Empathetic Communication for Life Beyond the Classroom - Read, Listen, Think, Speak & Write

Challenge young minds to STAR in the greatest story there is... their own!

COMMUNICATION & LIFE SKILLS THROUGH STORIES

The human mind relates better to action, colour and emotion - everything that’s present in stories and missing in facts.

We harness this power - of multicultural children's literature that mirrors real world challenges - to get kids to empathise, share ideas and creatively solve life-like problems.

Stories | Questions | Art | Drama | Games | Talks

Our questions will make you think. Our stories will help you understand.

“JOIN US IN CHANGING HOW YOUNG INDIA READS, THINKS, COMMUNICATES!”

— Devaki Bhujang Gajare, Mum of 2, Founder, Little Readers' Nook

At a Glance

WHAT?

3 tiered program with weekly sessions for ages 2-10

WHERE?

75 Little Readers' Nooks in 25 cities across India and overseas, and growing

HOW?

A magical brew of stories, questions, art, drama, games and talks thoughtfully engages kids with literature

WHY?

Traditional learning builds knowledge; after school programs focus on either 'speech and drama' or different aspects of language.

Little Readers' Nook offers ALL this plus crucial thinking prompts to prepare kids for real life beyond the classroom.

21st century SOFT skills

Empathy
Creative thinking
Problem solving

Expressive COMMUNICATION skills

Reading and writing
Listening and speaking
Comprehension and vocabulary

Join our growing tribe of over 10000 Little Readers across India and beyond - empathetic thinkers, creative problem solvers, expressive communicators!

Communicate, Collaborate, Build On Ideas.png

3 Tiered Program

Parent-Child Story Times for ages 2-3

• Bond over picture books
• Sensory play, action songs
• New words, thematic learning

Foster active listening, vocabulary, connect with books

Weekly 45 minute sessions offered at select locations at select times

Early Literacy Play Times for ages 4-7

• Storytelling, read aloud, story theatre, story art
• Action games, sensory play, word play, drama energisers
• Think aloud - step into a story, twists in the tale, build a story

Foster vocabulary and comprehension, design thinking, empathy and expression

Weekly 1 hour sessions offered at all our locations all year round

Creative Communication Workshops for ages 8-10

• Buddy reading, comprehension strategies, contextual vocabulary
• Design thinking, process drama, problem solving
• Debates, presentations, writing exercises

Foster reading fluency, thinking skills, oral and written communication

Weekly 1.5 hour sessions offered at select locations at select times

Rave Reviews

“My daughter comes home and narrates the most amazing stories. Her imagination is on fire and I am loving it!”

— Reema Srichand, Parent

“Agastya has become very expressive and imaginative. I consider this program a great investment for kids!”

— Ruchika Saraf Daga, Parent

“My Little Readers and I love this safe, stress-free space to freely express and explore our emotions.”

— Priya Date, Story Educator

“I feel lucky to be aligned with this program, it’s a hit! Kids are now far bolder in their communication.”

— Sujata Patki, Library Owner

“Why can’t we have our class everyday?”

— Little Readers

Find Us

Outside India . . .

Dubai
Simran, 0553505570
Ishita, 0554959900

Zurich
Nayana, 41787676175

Hong Kong
Mala, 60122075734

Bangkok
Sonam, 823233238

Mumbai - South & Central . . .

Marine Drive
Duja, 9930311151

Cuffe Parade
Pooja, 9819380613

Malabar Hill
Swati, 9820282033

Worli
Charita, 9969022412

Shivaji Park
Meher, 9833646412

Parel
Manasi, 9820693860

Sion-Matunga
Khushbu, 9821410765

Dadar-Wadala
Khushbu, 9821410765

Mumbai - Central Suburbs . . .

Chembur-Deonar
Sadhna, 9819311105

Ghatkopar East
Apeksha, 9819581065

Bhandup West
Divya, 9769694342

Mulund West
Apeksha, 9987076201

Mumbai - Western Suburbs . . .

Bandra West
Sarita, 9821175055

Santacruz West
Ruchi, 9892114433

Juhu-Versova
Geetu, 9821621210

Oshiwara
Anindita, 9820700954

Vile Parle East
Priya, 9967357230

Powai
Archana, 9867194449

Chandivali
Tasneem, 9769282322

Malad West
Devanshi, 9920661812

Malad East
Smita, 9819790377

Goregaon East
Suchi, 9870296113

Kandivali West
Rekha, 9930076690

Kandivali East
Priya, 9096060007

Borivali
Miti, 9833423458

Navi Mumbai & Thane . . .

Vashi-Nerul
Raashi, 9619564848

Panchpakhadi
Ketaki, 9833694075

Naupada
Amrita, 9987721713

Vartak Nagar
Amrita, 9987721713

Hiranandani Estate
Ruchika, 9867605134

Delhi NCR . . .

Karol Bagh
Geetika, 9811619811

Janakpuri
Dora, 9818606072

Model Town
Ankita, 9643541763

Civil Lines
Neha, 8383043764

Pitampura
Deepti, 9999111381

Sohna Road, Gurgaon
Shilpa, 9717770960

Golf Course Road, Gurgaon
Surbhi, 8826045453

Bangalore . . .

Vasanth Nagar
Kashish, 9880002200

Kormangala
Shrutika, 9059005555

Hebbal
Harika, 9560509513

Marathahalli
Sweta, 9742621210

Electronic City
Nishita, 9590565288

Kolkata . . .

Ballygunge
Swati, 9836324466

Hyderabad . . .

Hitech City
Krishna, 9490318272

Amberpet
Meghana, 9866672830

Nallagandla
Sruthi, 9959408080

Giridhari Park
Anuradha, 9885127845

Gandipet
Harita, 7674805132

Pune . . .

Salisbury Park
Neelam, 8888814882

South & West India . . .

Mysore
Nandita, 9916962655

Coimbatore
Hemalatha, 9790922443

Cochin
Nisha, 9809909046

Allepey
Nisha, 9809909046

Nagpur
Rashmi, 9823213532

Nasik
Saylee, 9049810030

Aurangabad
Pooja, 9922439791

Panjim
Deepali, 7387096407

Surat
Shruti, 9099011146

Vapi
Avni, 9099922523

North & Central India . . .

Indore
Gunjan, 9893826411

Jabalpur
Ishdeep, 9669575000

Ranchi
Illuminatrix, 7028021162

Agra
Ranu, 9319103433

Allahabad
Mona, 9839179722

Our Story

Why did Devaki Bhujang Gajare, an engineer working in New York, start a children’s book club on her return to hometown Mumbai? Motherhood and the passion to make a difference.

“As a book-lover, I was alarmed to see my son’s generation prefer gadgets over books.

With a firm belief in the magic of books, I began reading to kids around me, bringing stories alive through discussions, art, games and drama.

The little ones were not just hooked, the leap in their imagination and thinking skills amazed us all.”

— Devaki Bhujang Gajare, Mum of 2, Founder, Little Readers' Nook

As word spread, other mothers and educators expressed a desire to weave the magic in their own community, and joined hands with Devaki.

What began as a fun home experiment in 2012 thus blossomed into a beautiful collaborative enterprise called Little Readers’ Nook.

Our initiative has grown beyond our wildest dreams since then, challenging over 10000 kids to read and think in over 25 cities across India and beyond.

Join Us

Believe in our vision? Join us to build your own kid-centric startup.

We seek enterprising book-loving mums or educators to conduct Little Readers' Nook programs in their own neighbourhood.

Our Promise:

Branding and marketing support
Training and supportive team environment
Flexible work hours with work-from-home option
Well-planned curriculum - books, props, lesson plans, handouts

Our Requirements:

Passion for teaching, reading and interacting with kids
English fluency, a flair for drama and a great sense of fun
Commitment to ethical practices, excellence and teamwork
Dynamism and long-term outlook to grow your own venture

Know More

What are Language Arts? . . .

Language arts are the use of language to communicate ideas — by reading, writing, viewing, listening and speaking.

Skills covered include reading proficiency, vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, public speaking, writing.

Language is the basis of all thought — the best ideas are worth sharing with the world!

What are Life Skills? . . .

Life skills are the ability to independently deal with challenges of life. This includes learning to share, making new friends, mastering a skill or planning a trip for example.

Skills covered include creativity, communication, problem solving, decision making, empathy, managing people and emotions.

Life skills allow us to navigate a demanding life with joy and confidence.

How do you use childrens books to promote Language Arts and Life Skills? . . .

Good children's literature is rich in language and thought — new words, multicultural themes, interesting characters caught up in tricky situations… !

We curate award-winning books from around the world and design holistic activities to promote book appreciation and interaction.

Kids learn to read and write in school. We take them a step further: thinking beyond books to form their own views, effectively collaborating to display and nurture ideas.

Our small group size and warm fun-oriented approach ensures even reticent children express themselves freely and with confidence!

What happens in your sessions? . . .

A mix of stories, teacher-led thinking and communication routines, and child-led creative play:

• Energiser song, drama or game
• Interactive narration with story imagery
• Read alouds, picture book walks
• Discussions, games, drama, art-craft and play — to reinforce vocabulary, and recall, reflect upon and rejig stories
• Independent or buddy reading and writing (ages 7+)

What kind of books do you use? . . .

We curate the best in children's literature from around the world, picture books from acclaimed publishing houses created by award-winning authors and illustrators.

Featuring rich language and vocabulary, imaginative pictures and multicultural themes, these open-ended stories offer lots of food for thought, discussion and learning.

What learning outcomes can I expect? . . .

Over time, your child will learn to:

• Listen thoughtfully, imagine freely
• Communicate confidently using a rich vocabulary
• Show keen interest in exploring books
• Comprehend and think critically to extend reading
• Read with proficiency, write with ease (ages 7+)

Why don’t you teach my child to read? . . .

Learning to read is only the first step in your child’s journey as a successful reader and learner. This basic skill is taught in school.

Purposeful reading — to seek out new things or for pleasure — requires far more - vocabulary and comprehension, critical and creative thinking, communication and collaboration.

Developing ‘soft’ skills to navigate real life problems are our focus at Little Readers’ Nook.

Why a weekly session? How long should my child attend? . . .

• A weekly session allows us to unlock reading goals without overwhelming the children.
• The gaps between sessions offer kids time to reflect and connect to stories.
• Exploring language, enjoying books and building life skills is a continuous process.
• We therefore recommend your child attend our sessions on a continuous basis.

Why not cover more stories? . . .

We make each story count as we channel its power to prod your child to think creatively and critically. Please allow our thought provoking book appreciation activities time to weave their magic!

Will my child be able to retell stories at home? . . .

Most kids respond better to interesting discussions rather than overt questioning. Use our story recap and food for thought tips to get your child talking!

What can I do at home to support my child’s journey as an engaged reader? . . .

• Read together everyday! Let kids choose books, or use our themed booklists.
• Communicate often, integrate our vocabulary and food for thought tips into daily conversations.
• Create experiences around stories — follow up in-class lessons with real life stories and other teachable moments.
• Reflect on our handouts to recall words and stories. Add twists to the tale. Please do send the Little Readers’ Nook file to class each week.