Get Creative began on March 19, 2020, as an initiative to encourage children to keep up their artistic spirits amidst the coronavirus lockdown, and spend time away from the screens. With the success of Get Creative with English prompts, a version with Hindi and Bangla prompts was introduced soon after! Beginning April 26, prompts from Hindi and Bangla literature were uploaded, alternating between the two languages each day.
Every morning, prompts were uploaded on the website for different age groups. These prompts were lines or artworks from children's books, all taken from the collection in The ThinkArts Corner. Children then created their own artwork or a piece of writing as responses and sent them along. These were consequently uploaded on the ThinkArts Instagram and Facebook pages.
Several friends of ThinkArts were invited to suggest prompts - Bookworm Goa, library in Goa, Bijal.V, author & editor at Pratham Books, Menaka Raman, picture book author, Swati Roy of Bookaroo Children's Literature Festival, Maura Hurley of Mustard Seeds Kolkata, and Aashti Mudnani of the Lightroom Bookstore, Bangalore, suggested many of the English prompts. Several Hindi and Bangla prompts were suggested by Santanil Ganguly of Jhalapala Theatre Group, Alakananda Guha of Shamil Chotoder Pathshala, Shaili Sathyu of Gillo Repertory Theatre, Priyanka Chatterjee of Wild Strawberry, and Jodi Bolo Rongin.
The children had a variety of prompts coming their way, like the line “Grown-up people find it very difficult to believe really wonderful things, unless they have what they call proof.” from the book, Five Children and It by E Nesbit, and the paintings ‘Composition’ by S.H. Raza and ‘Water Lily Pond’ by Monet. The Hindi and Bangla prompts were taken from beloved writers such as Haku Shah, Premendra Mitra, Leela Majumdar and Satyajit Ray.
On Rabindra Jayanti, a special invitation had children choosing their own prompts from their favourite works of Tagore and sending their art inspired by poems like Stray Birds, Birpurush and Noukadubi.
Initially, it was expected that the responses would come from only Kolkata, where ThinkArts is based. However, there were entries and messages from across the country - from Delhi, Gurgaon, Chennai, and Bangalore. The initiative was received positively by children as well as their parents. Prakhar was one of the regulars in Get Creative, and his mum, Smriti, sent a lovely message one day, saying, “I am so enjoying looking at the topics every day with my son! Makes me spend quality time with him! Thank you team THINKARTS!”
Get Creative in English wrapped up its month-long run with a special treat. The prompt for the final day, April 19, was chosen by the children themselves. There were more than 20 entries with prompts from a variety of sources - from Satyajit Ray’s Sonar Kella to J K Rowling’s Harry Potter. Get Creative in Hindi/Bangla ended on May 10, with a prompt suggested by Nandana Sen with a prompt from one of Nabaneeta Dev Sen’s poems which was open to all children as well as their grown-ups.
Here are some articles on our initiative: in The New Indian Express, in The Telegraph and in Ei Samay.
ALBUM OF RESPONSES FROM CHILDREN - On FACEBOOK
Every morning, prompts were uploaded on the website for different age groups. These prompts were lines or artworks from children's books, all taken from the collection in The ThinkArts Corner. Children then created their own artwork or a piece of writing as responses and sent them along. These were consequently uploaded on the ThinkArts Instagram and Facebook pages.
Several friends of ThinkArts were invited to suggest prompts - Bookworm Goa, library in Goa, Bijal.V, author & editor at Pratham Books, Menaka Raman, picture book author, Swati Roy of Bookaroo Children's Literature Festival, Maura Hurley of Mustard Seeds Kolkata, and Aashti Mudnani of the Lightroom Bookstore, Bangalore, suggested many of the English prompts. Several Hindi and Bangla prompts were suggested by Santanil Ganguly of Jhalapala Theatre Group, Alakananda Guha of Shamil Chotoder Pathshala, Shaili Sathyu of Gillo Repertory Theatre, Priyanka Chatterjee of Wild Strawberry, and Jodi Bolo Rongin.
The children had a variety of prompts coming their way, like the line “Grown-up people find it very difficult to believe really wonderful things, unless they have what they call proof.” from the book, Five Children and It by E Nesbit, and the paintings ‘Composition’ by S.H. Raza and ‘Water Lily Pond’ by Monet. The Hindi and Bangla prompts were taken from beloved writers such as Haku Shah, Premendra Mitra, Leela Majumdar and Satyajit Ray.
On Rabindra Jayanti, a special invitation had children choosing their own prompts from their favourite works of Tagore and sending their art inspired by poems like Stray Birds, Birpurush and Noukadubi.
Initially, it was expected that the responses would come from only Kolkata, where ThinkArts is based. However, there were entries and messages from across the country - from Delhi, Gurgaon, Chennai, and Bangalore. The initiative was received positively by children as well as their parents. Prakhar was one of the regulars in Get Creative, and his mum, Smriti, sent a lovely message one day, saying, “I am so enjoying looking at the topics every day with my son! Makes me spend quality time with him! Thank you team THINKARTS!”
Get Creative in English wrapped up its month-long run with a special treat. The prompt for the final day, April 19, was chosen by the children themselves. There were more than 20 entries with prompts from a variety of sources - from Satyajit Ray’s Sonar Kella to J K Rowling’s Harry Potter. Get Creative in Hindi/Bangla ended on May 10, with a prompt suggested by Nandana Sen with a prompt from one of Nabaneeta Dev Sen’s poems which was open to all children as well as their grown-ups.
Here are some articles on our initiative: in The New Indian Express, in The Telegraph and in Ei Samay.
ALBUM OF RESPONSES FROM CHILDREN - On FACEBOOK
Sunday, 19th April 2020 - LAST DAY of GET CREATIVE ENGLISH
Children chose a quote from one of their favourite books and sent us a piece of writing or artwork in response. Anisha (age group 6 to 9) - “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Nishka (age group 6 to 9) - "If you cannot say something nice, don't say nothing at all." from Disney's Bambi. Sharanya (age group 6 to 9) - ""We all can dance,” he said, “if we find the music that we love.”" from Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae. Anukarsh (age group 6 to 9) - "The villagers used this road to go to the market town. Some used the bus, a few rode on miles and most people walked." from The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond. Arhant (age group 9 to 12) -"It would be lovely to sleep in a wild cherry tree all white with bloom in the moonshine, don't you think?" from Anne with an E. Anavi (age group 9 to 12) - "By the time all of them reached the playground it was almost 4 pm." from The Magic of The Lost Temple by Sudha Murty. Adhishree (age group 6 to 9) - “I will stay until the wind changes.” from Mary Poppins. Navya (ages 12+) - "Live every moment as not to regret what you are about to do." from Mickey Mouse. Ambar (age group 9 to 12) - "I guess I was supposed to turn off a valve or something, though, because the next thing I knew water was spraying out all over the place." from Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney. Abherii (age group 6 to 9) - “Books! And Cleverness! There are more important things- friendship and bravery.” from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K.Rowling. Aabhaa (age group 6 to 9) - "It is. It’s got the most gorgeous view over the sea, too." from Malory Towers by Enid Blyton. Pratyush (age group 6 to 9) - "ऊंट पे जाओगे?" from Sonar Kella by Satyajit Ray. Vatsal (age group 6 to 9) - "Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy" from The Sick Rose by William Blake. Nikita (ages 12+) - "One, two! One, two! And through and through The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head He went galumphing back." from Jabberwocky by Lewis Caroll. Vansh (age group 6 to 9) - Noddy - Big Ears and the Naughty Trick by Enid Blyton. Anushka (age group 6 to 9) - "Some Pig" from Charlotte's Web by E.B White. Trijal (age group 6 to 9) - “Saraswati is associated with a goose because it is believed that the bird has the magical ability to separate milk from water.” from Pashu by Devdutt Pattanaik. Himaghna (age group 6 to 9) - “Hamilton the pig looked at the mouse as she limped unhappily away. It is not easy for little pigs to be generous and Hamilton did not want to give his hat away, but he decided to do it.” from Hamilton's Hats by Martine Oborne. Rian (age group 9 to 12) - "I think people make their own faces, as they grow." from The Naughtiest Girl Again by Enid Blyton. Rushan (age group 9 to 12) - "I can't believe it. We're in a book!" from Book Scavengers by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Rian (age group 9 to 12) - Up The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. PROMPTS:
GET CREATIVE: (Hindi)
9th May: For all ages आज हमारी छुट्टी है । उठ जायेंगे क्या जल्दी है, नींद तो पूरी करने दो । बड़ी थकावट हफ्ते भर की, आराम ज़रूरी करने दो । -आज हमारी छुट्टी है ,श्याम सुन्दरअग्रवाल 7th May age group 6 to 12: इक दिन मालू माँ से बोली माँ मैं सैर को जाऊँगी आसमान के पार है क्या मैं देख कर आऊँगी - मालू भालू, कमला भसीन age group 12+ वे मुस्काते फूल, नहीं जिनको आता है मुरझाना, वे तारों के दीप, नहीं जिनको भाता है बुझ जाना! - मिटने का अधिकार / महादेवी वर्मा 5th May age group 6 to 12: अम्मा! बाजी कहती हैं "चाँद में परियाँ रहती हैं"| - चाँद में परियाँ रहती हैं , अफसर age group 12+: यह पिंजड़े में बंद रहा है, नहीं कभी स्वच्छंद रहा है। छोटे से यह पकड़ा आया, मार-मार कर गया सिखाया। अपनेको भी भूल गया है, आती इस पर मुझे दया है। - सरकस / मैथिलीशरण गुप्त 3rd May: age group (6 to 12) नाव चली, नानी की नाव चली, नीना की नानी की नाव चली! लंबे सफ़र पे - नानी की नाव, हरेंद्रनाथ चट्टोपाध्याय age group (12+) राहुल तू निर्णय कर इसका, न्याय पक्ष लेता है किसका? - माँ कह एक कहानी, मैथिलीशरण गुप्त 1st May: age group (6 to 12) किताबें कुछ कहना चाहती हैं तुम्हारे पास रहना चाहती है | - किताबें, सफ़दर हाशमी age group (12+) वृक्षों पर अजीब हरियाली है, खतों में कुछ अजीब रौनक है, आसमान पर कुछ अजीब लालिमा है। -ईदगाह, मुंशी प्रेमचन्द 29th April: The poem and story from which these lines have been taken can be read online on Pitara age group (6 to 12) थोड़ी हवा नाक में घुस गई घुस गई थोड़ी कान में। - बतूता का जूता, सर्वेश्वरदयाल सक्सेना age group (12+) पर कभी कभी किसी एक काम में लगे रहने पर दूसरे किसी काम में कुछ गड़बड़ी हो ही जाती है। - प्यारे पिताजी, भबेन्द्र नाथ सैकिया 27th April - We would like to thank our friend, Shaili Sathyu, Artistic Director, Gillo Repertory Theatre, Mumbai for suggesting today's prompts. age group (6 to 12) चंपा ने पूछा: चिडिया, तू कपडे क्यों नहीं पहनती? तुझे ठंड नहीं लगती? - चंपा, हकु शाह age group (12+) अकबर राजा लाजवाब था, समझ में उसके आई या तो दुनिया सब की है या नहीं किसी की भाई - दुनिया सबकी, सफ़दर हाश्मी |
Entries for 19th April 2020
GET CREATIVE: (Bangla) Last Day : 10th May 2020 We thank Nandana Dev Sen for sending us these lines as the prompt for today. পঁচিশে বৈশাখ, ধুপধুনো কৈ, শাখ? বুকের মধ্যে বাজছে কাঁসর বুকের মধ্যে ঢাক বুকের মধ্যে গানের আসর পঁচিশে বৈশাখ । - পঁচিশে বৈশাখ, নবনীতা দেবসেন 8th May : Today on Rabindra Jayanti, we invite children of all ages, to choose their favourite line from one of Rabindranath Tagore's works and send us their response as a piece of writing in any language, or as an artwork. 6th May: We would like to thank our friend, Santanil Ganguly from Jhalapala Theatre Group for suggesting today's prompts. age group 6 to 12: ঘোড়ার দুদিকে দুটো ডানা। সেই ডানায় ঢেউ তুলে ঘোড়া আকাশে উড়তে লেগেছে, অঙ্ক স্যার উপুর হয়ে ঘোড়ার পিঠ ঝাপটে ধরে আছেন। - অঙ্ক স্যার, গোলাপীবাবু আর টিপু, সত্যজিৎ রায় age group 12+: চাঁদনি রাতে দুঃখী কুকুররা সত্যি ঘুমোয় না, সারা রাত চাঁদের দিক মুখ তুলে হু-হু করে কাঁদে। - হলদেপাখির পালক, লীলা মজুমদার 4th May: Many thanks to Alakananda Guha from Shamil Chotoder Pathshala for suggesting today's prompts. age group 6 to 12: থাকে ওরা কান পেতে লুকানো ঘরের কোণে। ডাক পড়ে বাতাসেতে, কী করে সে ওরা শোনে! - সহজ পাঠ, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর age group 12+: আঁধার কুঁড়ির বাঁধন টুটে চাঁদের ফুল উঠেছে ফুটে। - গীতবিতান, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর 2nd May: We'd like to thank our friend, Priyanka Chatterjee from Wild Strawberry for suggesting today's prompts! age group 6 to 12: রাতের বেলা দুপুর যদি হয়, দুপুর বেলা রাত হবে না কেন। - প্রশ্ন, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর age group 12+ : যা-তা বলে যাচ্ছেন রাজা ভারি উল্টা পাল্টা, সায় দিয়ে সব ঘাড় নাড়ছে রেখে কথার তালটা। সভায় ছিল একটি ছেলে — বয়েস বছর সতেরো, দেখলে যখন ঠিক নেইকো কাহার কোন মতের-ও, হেসে ফেললে একেবারে নানা সুরে রঙ্গে। হায়রে কপাল! কাহার সাধ্য সভার নিয়ম লংঘে.... - রাজার সভা, শ্রী বিজয় চন্দ্র মজুমদার 30th April: Many thanks to our friends at Jodi Bolo Rongin for suggesting the prompts. age group 6 to 12: এক যে আছে মজার দেশ সব রকমের ভালো, রাত্তিরেতে বেজায় রোদ, দিনে চাঁদের আলো! - মজার দেশ, যোগীন্দ্রনাথ সরকার age group 12+ : ওলট পালট করি বিশ্বখানা ভাঙি যেথায় যত নিষেধ মানা মনের মত কানুন করি কটা রাজা হওয়ার খুব করে নিই ঘটা। - হঠাৎ যদি, প্রেমেন্দ্র মিত্র 28th April: A big thank you to our friend, Santanil Ganguly from Jhalapala Theatre Group for suggesting today's prompts. age group 6 to 12: সেদিন ভোরে দেখি উঠে বৃষ্টি বাদল গেছে ছুটে, রোদ উঠেছে ঝিলমিলিয়ে বাঁশের ডালে ডালে age group 12+ : সেই ভেলা টেউয়ে টেউয়ে ভাসছে। এক সমুদ্র থেকে আরেক সমুদ্রে গিয়ে পড়ছে। তার আর ফিরে আসার গরজ নেই। 26th April - We would like to thank our friend Alakananda Guha from Shamil Chotoder Pathshala for suggesting today's prompts. age group (6 to 12) কাল ছিল ডাল খালি, আজ ফুলে যায় ভরে। বল্ দেখি তুই মালী, হয় সে কেমন করে? - সহজ পাঠ, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর age group (12+) "কোথা সে পথের শেষ কোন্ সুদূরের দেশ!" - গীতবিতান, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর |
Saturday, 18th April 2020
Ages 6 to 9: Spoons are excellent. Sort of like forks, only not as stabby. From the book, Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman.
Ages 9 to 12: He learned the nature of all trees, the particular magics that are in oak and beech and ash. From the book, The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper.
Age 12+: Music is the hidden arithmetic of the soul, which does not know that it deals with numbers. From the book, The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages.
Friday, 17th April 2020
We’d like to thank Aashti Mudnani from the Lightroom Bookstore for suggesting the prompts for today!
Ages 6 to 9: Suddenly there was a swish and swoosh and something came swishing and swooshing out of the sky. From the book, The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl.
Ages 9 to 12: I don't think any of us had ever heard a story like it before. And as sad and as scary as it was, it was even sadder and scarier because it wasn't just a made up story from one of our reading books. It was all real. From the book, The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q Raúf.
Ages 12+: Whenever she was bogged down with an English essay or stuck in the middle of a Maths problem or feeling overwhelmed by life, she grabbed her shiny blue brush. From the book, What Maya Saw by Shabnam Minwalla.
Thursday, 16th April 2020
Ages 6 to 9: For a host, above all, must be kind to his guests. From the book, Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose by Dr Seuss.
Ages 9 to 12: If I couldn't sleep, I could read. From the book, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.
Ages 12+: He was not bone and feather but a perfect idea of freedom and flight, limited by nothing at all. From the book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.
Wednesday, 15th April 2020
Ages 6 to 9: Tortoise, Tortoise get bigger, bigger. Come on Tortoise grow up, puff up, shoot up! From the book, Esio Trot by Roald Dahl.
Ages 9 to 12: Grown-up people find it very difficult to believe really wonderful things, unless they have what they call proof. From the book, Five Children and It by E Nesbit.
Ages 12+: Nothing in life is easy. But that's no reason to give up. you'll be surprised what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it. From the book, Holes by Louis Sachar.
Tuesday, 14th April 2020
Thank you to our friend, Menaka Raman for suggesting the prompts for today
Ages 6 to 9 :
'He has bus rides with April and horse rides with May. He eats burgers with Billy and jelly with Jay' From the book, The Everywhere Ear by Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cob.
Ages 9 to 12 :
Sumati borrows one kilo of cotton seeds from the bank. Nabita carefully notes it down in a register. Krupa deposits one kilo of paddy seeds in the bank.Ketaki carefully stores the seeds in a pot. From the book, The Seed Savers by Bijal Vachharajani and Jayesh Sivan.
Ages 12+ :
The bus was late. But 'late' and 'early' are words you can only use if you have a watch. If you have a watch, time becomes a number, and a bus becomes late or early or even - why not? - on time. None of the five persons who stood by the road had a watch. So the bus was an idea that would happen some time. From the book, The Year of the Weeds by Siddhartha Sarma.
Monday, 13th April 2020
Ages 6 to 9: He was the owner of the moonlight on the ground. From the book, Tales from Moominvalley by Tove Jansson.
Ages 9 to 12: Every moment of the afternoon a month or so later was so deeply etched in my memory. From the book, Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo.
Ages 12+: How foolish to believe we are more powerful than the sea or the sky. From the book, Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys.
Sunday, 12th April 2020
Painting from the book, A Summer Story by K G Subramanyan.
Saturday, 11th April 2020
Ages 6 to 9: Not every doctor can look into a mouse's ear without laughing. From the book, Stuart Little by E.B White.
Ages 9 to 12: Low tide smells mud-black and tangy, but high tide smells clean and salty. From the book, Rules by Cynthia Lord.
Ages 12+: What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be? From the book, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
Friday, 10th April 2020
A massive thank you to Maura Hurley from Mustard Seeds Kolkata for suggesting the prompts for today!
Ages 6 to 9: "I am the nursery magic Fairy", she said. "I take care of all the playthings that children have loved and make them Real." From the book, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
Ages 9 to 12: At home, he poured water into a bowl and sprinkled grain for the birds to eat. He nursed them back to health, and when they were well and strong, he took them to the big banyan tree. From the book, The Birdman by Veronika Martenova Charles.
Ages 12+: After his long doctor's day, Willie climbed to the attic where he kept a lamp and a desk filled with letters from his artist friends and notes he'd made about things he'd heard, seen, or done. From the book, A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant.
Thursday, 9th April 2020
Ages 6 to 9: When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen. From the book, Winnie-the-Pooh by A A· Milne.
Ages 9 to 12: You cannot stop the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can stop them nesting in your hair. From the book, The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson.
Ages 12+: Thank you for showing me your planet. From the book, Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead.
Wednesday, 8th April 2020
Water Lily Pond, Painting by Monet (referred to in the book, Katie and the Waterlily Pond by James Mayhew)
Tuesday, 7th April 2020
Ages 6 to 9 : Lalli’s stomach was growling already. Why couldn’t she have all this wonderful food? From the book, The Girl Who Ironed Her Hair and other stories by Lalita Iyer.
Ages 9 to 12: Kindness is a boomerang. You throw it out and you get it back. From the book, Evie and the Animals by Matt Haig.
Ages 12+: Suddenly, as if from nowhere, a feeble old man limped up to the counter. From the book, Earthquake Boy by Leela Gour Broome.
Monday, 6th April 2020
Ages 6 to 9: Life stopped being cosy for Kosy, the lion, when he lost his teeth. From the book, The Lizard of Oz and other stories by Khyrunnisa A.
Ages 9 to 12: Peter stopped to take a pebble out of his shoe. From the book, Circus Shoes by Noel Streatfield.
Ages 12+ : It's not a silly question if you can't answer it. From the book, Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder.
Sunday, 5th April 2020
Ages 6 to 9: Ickle me, Pickle me, Tickle me too Went for a ride in a flying shoe.
From the book, Where the Sidewalk Ends - the poems and drawings of Shel Silverstein.
Ages 9 to 12: Could anything be more exciting than a journey into the unknown, a voyage of discovery across the great, wide ocean?
From the book, The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers.
Ages 12+ : It’s going to be a long journey, and I don’t know what’s at the other end.
From the book, Running on the cracks by Julia Donaldson.
Saturday, 4th April 2020
ages 6 to 9 : Rats have a sense of humor. Rats, in fact think the world is very funny
From the book, The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo.
ages 9 to 12 : And being different? That turned out to be the best part of all.
From the book, El Deafo by Cece Bell.
ages 12+ : Even the silence has a story to tell you. Just listen. Listen.
From the book, Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson.
Friday, 3rd April 2020
The boat by Amrita Shergill
Thursday, 2nd April 2020
ages 6 to 9: It was his mother’s birthday today and he had forgotten.
-Dot and Anton by Erich Kastner
ages 9 to 12: A city boy all my life, the paintings really did look like the paradise my mother had promised me.
- Meeting Cézanne by Michael Morpurgo
ages 12+: His face looked weird. Like he was thinking of things that couldn’t be said.
-Ela by Sampurna Chattarji
Wednesday, 1st April 2020
ages 6 to 9 : She wanted to stop by to say hello to the sun.
- Lost & Found in a Mumbai Koliwada by Vinitha & Kripa
ages 9 to 12 : My Uncle Dan’s an inventor, you may think that’s very fine. You may wish he was your Uncle instead of being mine ...
- Meet My Folks! by Ted Hughes
ages 12+ : Do you know what it feels like? It feels like forgetting the earth. It feels like moving the skies.
- Dear Mrs Naidu by Mathangi Subramanian
Tuesday, 31st March 2020
A big thank you to Swati Roy of the Bookaroo Children's Literature Festival for suggesting the prompts for today!
ages 6 to 9 : A spider’s web is stronger than it looks. Although it is made of thin, delicate strands, the web is not easily broken.
- Charlotte's Web by E B White
ages 9 to 12 : All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
ages 12+ : Which is better--to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Monday, 30th March 2020
Untitled (Benares) by Ram Kumar
ages 6 to 9: It was his mother’s birthday today and he had forgotten.
-Dot and Anton by Erich Kastner
ages 9 to 12: A city boy all my life, the paintings really did look like the paradise my mother had promised me.
- Meeting Cézanne by Michael Morpurgo
ages 12+: His face looked weird. Like he was thinking of things that couldn’t be said.
-Ela by Sampurna Chattarji
Wednesday, 1st April 2020
ages 6 to 9 : She wanted to stop by to say hello to the sun.
- Lost & Found in a Mumbai Koliwada by Vinitha & Kripa
ages 9 to 12 : My Uncle Dan’s an inventor, you may think that’s very fine. You may wish he was your Uncle instead of being mine ...
- Meet My Folks! by Ted Hughes
ages 12+ : Do you know what it feels like? It feels like forgetting the earth. It feels like moving the skies.
- Dear Mrs Naidu by Mathangi Subramanian
Tuesday, 31st March 2020
A big thank you to Swati Roy of the Bookaroo Children's Literature Festival for suggesting the prompts for today!
ages 6 to 9 : A spider’s web is stronger than it looks. Although it is made of thin, delicate strands, the web is not easily broken.
- Charlotte's Web by E B White
ages 9 to 12 : All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
ages 12+ : Which is better--to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Monday, 30th March 2020
Untitled (Benares) by Ram Kumar
Sunday, 29th March 2020
ages 6 to 9 : Ashoka turned to the one with the more shocking appearance. "Why is your beard purple?"
- Ashoka and the Muddled Messages by Natasha Sharma
ages 9 to 12 : It's great. It reminds me of the stupidest thing I have ever done.
- You Wait Till I'm Older Than You by Michael Rosen
ages 12+ : They walked towards the abandoned village. The house was still standing but the trees around looked thin and stunted, as if all the tops have been sheared off.
- Son of the Thundercloud by Easterine Kire
Lockdown Weekend #1 :
28th & 29th March 2020
We are collaborating with our friends at ArtsForward to present a special edition
Artsforward and Think Arts come together to present 'dream a little dream'. We will mark the first lockdown weekend, 28-29 Mar, with little dreams from children, every hour from 8 am to 8 pm on both days.
Submit to [email protected] with your child's name, age, and a few words about the artwork.
Friday, 27th March 2020
We'd like to thank our dear friend, Bijal Vachharajani, author, A Cloud Called Bhura, for suggesting the prompts for today!
ages 6 to 9 : Something about him made her say, 'Okay, we can talk later, Rizu. Maybe after school.'
- Timmi and Rizu by Shals Mahajan
ages 9 to 12 : Silver-quick, the big shark slurped
- Tickle Me, Don't Tickle Me and other poems for magnificent, turbo-loaded, triple-charged children by Jerry Pinto
ages 12+ : 'His Excellency is sleeping,' she replied grandly. 'He cannot be disturbed.'
- Gravepyres School for the Recently Deceased by Anita Roy
Thursday, 26th March 2020
ages 6 to 9: Moin poured water on the monster's head, and began to rub shampoo on its hair. Suddenly a very scary thing happened.
- Moin and the Monster by Anushka Ravishankar
ages 9 to 12: Turning the corner, she stood still, taking stock. Ahead of her, the canyon narrowed, its steep, high walls closing in around the river from both sides.
- Taranauts: The Race for the Glo Rubies by Roopa Pai
ages 12+ : I don't think there's anything wrong being a dreamer.
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Wednesday, 25th March 2020
This painting, Sky Blue by Wassily Kandinsky, is an early example of abstract art. What do you think about it?
ages 6 to 9 : Ashoka turned to the one with the more shocking appearance. "Why is your beard purple?"
- Ashoka and the Muddled Messages by Natasha Sharma
ages 9 to 12 : It's great. It reminds me of the stupidest thing I have ever done.
- You Wait Till I'm Older Than You by Michael Rosen
ages 12+ : They walked towards the abandoned village. The house was still standing but the trees around looked thin and stunted, as if all the tops have been sheared off.
- Son of the Thundercloud by Easterine Kire
Lockdown Weekend #1 :
28th & 29th March 2020
We are collaborating with our friends at ArtsForward to present a special edition
Artsforward and Think Arts come together to present 'dream a little dream'. We will mark the first lockdown weekend, 28-29 Mar, with little dreams from children, every hour from 8 am to 8 pm on both days.
Submit to [email protected] with your child's name, age, and a few words about the artwork.
Friday, 27th March 2020
We'd like to thank our dear friend, Bijal Vachharajani, author, A Cloud Called Bhura, for suggesting the prompts for today!
ages 6 to 9 : Something about him made her say, 'Okay, we can talk later, Rizu. Maybe after school.'
- Timmi and Rizu by Shals Mahajan
ages 9 to 12 : Silver-quick, the big shark slurped
- Tickle Me, Don't Tickle Me and other poems for magnificent, turbo-loaded, triple-charged children by Jerry Pinto
ages 12+ : 'His Excellency is sleeping,' she replied grandly. 'He cannot be disturbed.'
- Gravepyres School for the Recently Deceased by Anita Roy
Thursday, 26th March 2020
ages 6 to 9: Moin poured water on the monster's head, and began to rub shampoo on its hair. Suddenly a very scary thing happened.
- Moin and the Monster by Anushka Ravishankar
ages 9 to 12: Turning the corner, she stood still, taking stock. Ahead of her, the canyon narrowed, its steep, high walls closing in around the river from both sides.
- Taranauts: The Race for the Glo Rubies by Roopa Pai
ages 12+ : I don't think there's anything wrong being a dreamer.
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Wednesday, 25th March 2020
This painting, Sky Blue by Wassily Kandinsky, is an early example of abstract art. What do you think about it?
Tuesday, 24th March 2020
ages 6 to 9:
We are now about to visit the most marvellous place and see the most wonderful things.
- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
ages 9 to 12:
Soon it was the time of the monsoon. Big black clouds kept piling up, and thunder rolled over the hills.
- The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond
ages 12+:
Out on the horizon, storms flashed over the sea, so distant, we could not hear the rumble of thunder loudly nor see the rolling clouds and flashes of light forking up.
- The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Monday, 23rd March 2020
ages 6 to 9 :
Bala was tired; he had walked a long way. He sat down to rest his legs.
- Bookasura: The Adventures of Bala and the Book Eating Monster by Arundhati Venkatesh
ages 9 to 12 :
I thought nothing could get into my tent, but I was wrong.
- Tigers for Dinner by Ruskin Bond
ages 12+ :
It was when I moved towards the door that I screamed. Loud enough to shake the entire building from its very foundations.
- Hot Chocolate is Thicker Than Blood by Rupa Gulab
Weekend, 21st & 22nd March 2020
Many thanks to our friends at Bookworm, Goa for suggesting the writing prompts for this weekend.
ages 6 to 9 :
I saw the river Narmadaji every day from my house. It was lovely! I saw water, earth, wind and sky. All inside a square frame.
- Syed Haider Raza by Syed Haider Raza.
ages 9 to 12 :
He would think of a story and paint its many events in one picture. It could be about what was happening in the world, or about imaginary things.
- K.G Subramanyan's Story Paintings by Sara Vetteth.
ages 12+ :
It is like magic. I sit in one place with paper and pen, and it is my hand that starts to move. Lines, dots, more lines and more dots, and you have a picture. I can bring to life things that I have seen and known, but also things that I imagine. I can even bring the two together.
- Drawing from the City, based on the oral stories of Tejubehan. Drawings by Tejubehan. English text by V. Geetha & Gita Wolf.
Friday, 20th March 2020
Composition by S.H. Raza. Here is a painting by an artist who was born nearly 100 years ago - what do you think about it?
ages 6 to 9:
We are now about to visit the most marvellous place and see the most wonderful things.
- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
ages 9 to 12:
Soon it was the time of the monsoon. Big black clouds kept piling up, and thunder rolled over the hills.
- The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond
ages 12+:
Out on the horizon, storms flashed over the sea, so distant, we could not hear the rumble of thunder loudly nor see the rolling clouds and flashes of light forking up.
- The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Monday, 23rd March 2020
ages 6 to 9 :
Bala was tired; he had walked a long way. He sat down to rest his legs.
- Bookasura: The Adventures of Bala and the Book Eating Monster by Arundhati Venkatesh
ages 9 to 12 :
I thought nothing could get into my tent, but I was wrong.
- Tigers for Dinner by Ruskin Bond
ages 12+ :
It was when I moved towards the door that I screamed. Loud enough to shake the entire building from its very foundations.
- Hot Chocolate is Thicker Than Blood by Rupa Gulab
Weekend, 21st & 22nd March 2020
Many thanks to our friends at Bookworm, Goa for suggesting the writing prompts for this weekend.
ages 6 to 9 :
I saw the river Narmadaji every day from my house. It was lovely! I saw water, earth, wind and sky. All inside a square frame.
- Syed Haider Raza by Syed Haider Raza.
ages 9 to 12 :
He would think of a story and paint its many events in one picture. It could be about what was happening in the world, or about imaginary things.
- K.G Subramanyan's Story Paintings by Sara Vetteth.
ages 12+ :
It is like magic. I sit in one place with paper and pen, and it is my hand that starts to move. Lines, dots, more lines and more dots, and you have a picture. I can bring to life things that I have seen and known, but also things that I imagine. I can even bring the two together.
- Drawing from the City, based on the oral stories of Tejubehan. Drawings by Tejubehan. English text by V. Geetha & Gita Wolf.
Friday, 20th March 2020
Composition by S.H. Raza. Here is a painting by an artist who was born nearly 100 years ago - what do you think about it?
Thursday, 19th March 2020
(These lines are from books by award winning children's authors.)
Ages 6 to 9: Can you see Brian, the invisible boy?
- The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Ages 9 to 12: The sky was darkening. Great glorious streaks of red and gold hung over the city.
- The Boy Who Climbed Into The Moon by David Almond
Ages 12+: What were weeds, really? Korok thought he must know.
- Year of the Weeds by Siddhartha Sarma
(These lines are from books by award winning children's authors.)
Ages 6 to 9: Can you see Brian, the invisible boy?
- The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Ages 9 to 12: The sky was darkening. Great glorious streaks of red and gold hung over the city.
- The Boy Who Climbed Into The Moon by David Almond
Ages 12+: What were weeds, really? Korok thought he must know.
- Year of the Weeds by Siddhartha Sarma