New
Delhi 10th February, 2025: The World Book Fair, held at Bharat
Mandapam in Delhi from February 1 to 9,
witnessed enthusiastic book shopping. Among the most vibrant spots in the world
book fair was Children's Book Trust (CBT) stall in
Children pavilion at Hall No.6, Bharat
Mandapam . The CBT stall remained a
major attraction among children and young readers, drawing large crowds
throughout the event.
According
to the CBT officials, the combination of a 10-20% discount on books and the
immense popularity of CBT publications among children resulted in
record-breaking sales this year. They reported that over 7 lakh books were sold
within the 9-day fair.
Children's Book Trust registers record sales both at the New
Delhi
World Book Fair and the International Kolkata Book Fair this year.The books and the stalls
during all these Book Fairs have been
attracting children and their guardians in large numbers. This year the Trust
has registered record sales from its participation at the fairs, both at Kolkata
and New Delhi.
· Over 7 Lakh Books Sold by Children's Book Trust in New Delhi
World Book Fair
· Children’s Book Trust has unveiled more
than 25 new titles during the New Delhi World Book Fair
·
CBT to launch within a year a 20,000 sq ft Children’s Centre at
Chanakyapuri in Delhi with state of the art Meeting Rooms, Activity Centres,
Congregational Halls, Art Gallery, Doll’s Workshop, etc
Ms. Rana Siddiqui Zaman; Lead Strategist, Content, Communications &
Promotions; Children’s Book Trust said, “Looking
at the enthusiastic response in the fairs in the East and based on our internal
survey, CBT is mulling over opening Book Stores designed as Children’s Fun
Zones in prominent Eastern Indian Cities with engaging activities for children.
The idea to engage children in good books that represent Indian cultural and
moral values as well as physical games and fun activities.”
Mr. Kishore Lal; Chairman, Children’s Book Trust says, “this year CBT will also be
launching a 20,000 sq ft Shankar’s International Children’s Centre in Delhi
where we plan to have Meeting Rooms, Activity Centre for various artistic
activities, Art Gallery for paintings received during previous Painting
competitions, Venue for On-The-spot Competition, Doll’s Workshop, etc to have
cultural and artistic exchanges between different groups of children from
different parts of India or abroad and even expatriates.”
Mr Lal further added, “We have
had our presence internationally through our books which we sell in many
countries, with the coming up of our SICC, we would like to have them here
physically and see them grow intellectually and artistically”.
Children’s Book Trust (www.childrensbooktrust.com) is a not-for-profit
organization founded by the renowned political cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai in
1957, making it the oldest Publisher for children’s storybooks in India. The
Trust and its various wings have relentlessly for the last 68 years been
finding new arenas and new opportunities to help children in their mental and
creative growth.
This year, the
Trust has taken up an aggressive marketing stand as a result of innumerable
requests from parents to help deviate children from excessive use of mobile
phones and other electronic screens. As a result the Trust this year has
participated in 3 book fairs – namely Asansol Book Fair, and the International
Kolkata Book Fair and New Delhi World Book Fair. The Trust is planning to
follow it up at other cities like Lucknow, Jaipur, Pune and even Abu Dhabi,
Sharjah and Frankfurt in the current year.
About Children’s Book Trust:
Children’s
Book Trust, now in its 68th year, are the pioneer in children’s book publishing
in India. The trust produces well-written, well-illustrated and well-designed
books for children. CBT brings out books that are easy to read and easy on the
eyes, including books that will help children to better appreciate India's
cultural heritage.
CBT
in their presentation, production and visual interpretations has progressed
manifold since it was founded by Shankar in 1957; from Panchatantra tales or
the Retold Folktales to diversified subjects like Fiction, Science Fiction,
Heritage, Information, Popular Science, Great Institutions, Humour Stories,
Short Plays and Read-Aloud Books. The Trust believes its books will generate a
deeper spirit of enquiry in young minds and a healthy, progressive outlook to
life and living. The titles are published not only in English and Hindi, but
also in other Indian languages like Bengali, Telegu, Tamil, etc.
CBT
books have been included under Adult Education and Science Improvement schemes.
Select titles were printed under the 'Operation Blackboard' in many languages
to supply in bulk to various State Governments. CBT which has more than 1000
titles to its credit, also has an exhaustive and authoritative book on
'Children's Literature in India' for documentation and referencing.
The
Trust keeps prices of its books affordable, in fact subsidized, in an effort to
keep its books within the reach of the average Indian child.
CBTs production of books, limited till a few decades
back, has increased several-fold, at times exceeding a 100 in a year. CBT books
have become a byword for elegance, quality and printing merit. The annual sale
of books has increased five-fold. The diversification of subjects has come to
cover a large gamut relevant to children and their growing needs. CBT books
have got national and international awards. In all these activities CBT has
kept in mind Shankar's passionate belief that children deserve nothing but the
very best.