Grab a pencil, find a wall: Bookaroo is back with stories, books and more for Delhi’s children

Delhi's Bookaroo Children's Literature Festival returns for its 18th edition on October 3 and 4 at Sunder Nursery, Nizamuddin, offering stories, books, and more for children aged 4 to 14. The festival, which has traveled to 16 Indian cities and beyond, features 50 writers, illustrators, and storytellers from 12 countries in 58 sessions.

Children can join a Doodle Wall, where they sketch alongside illustrators to create a collective mural. This year's Illustrators Quarter will return, providing a space for illustrators to display and discuss their work. Panels include "What Goes Into Illustrating a Children’s Book," featuring Swiss illustrator Carla Haslbauer, Mumbai-based artist and illustrator Kripa Bhatia, and Delhi-based visual artist and illustrator Pakhi Senshekhar.

Another panel, "Let Them Choose," led by author Paro Anand and Roohi Sehgal, focuses on reading choices for parents and children, encouraging children to pick books they enjoy. The festival aims to provide a unique, unfiltered interaction between authors and children, free from parental influence. No pre-registration is required, allowing children to sit beside strangers and make new friends.