The second edition of the Andaman Nicobar Book Fair 2026 continued to draw enthusiastic participation on its third day, with children-centric activities emerging as a major highlight at the ITF Ground. Organised by the National Book Trust with the support of the Department of Art & Culture, A&N Administration, the fair saw more than 300 school students from across the city take part in a range of creative and literary engagements .
The day’s programme focused on encouraging imagination, reading habits, and creative expression among children, with multiple interactive sessions held under the Children’s Corner. From the morning hours, the venue buzzed with activity as groups of students arrived with teachers and parents, filling the fairgrounds with colour and energy.
The first major session of the day was a Creative Writing Workshop, where children were divided into groups and tasked with crafting original stories. Participants selected slips from four different baskets, each containing words that they were required to incorporate into their narratives. Using these prompts along with their imagination, the groups developed short stories and illustrated them, turning the exercise into a blend of writing and visual creativity. Seven groups were selected for their efforts and rewarded with children’s books published by the National Book Trust.
This was followed by an Origami Art Workshop conducted by Shivani, where participants were introduced to the Japanese art of paper folding. Using colourful origami sheets, children learned to create two different types of birds, gaining hands-on experience in transforming simple paper into expressive forms. Organisers said the workshop was aimed at demonstrating how creativity and patience can produce engaging results using minimal materials.
In another session, children were encouraged to engage with the concept of digital reading through a slogan-writing activity centred on digital libraries and digital books. The activity was conducted in collaboration with Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, also known as ReP. Participants expressed their thoughts on digital access to books and reading through short slogans, with the best entries receiving prizes and goodies from the digital library initiative.
Beyond the structured workshops, children made active use of the specially designed activity zone, where they doodled, drew, and explored freely. Many also spent time visiting the various bookstalls set up at the fair, browsing through titles across genres and interacting with exhibitors. Teachers and parents accompanying the students said the fair provided a valuable opportunity to expose children to books and creative pursuits outside the classroom environment.
Organisers have announced a packed schedule of activities for the following day as well. On February 17, the Children’s Corner will host a storytelling session for students of Classes I to V from 10 am to 10.45 am, followed by an illustration workshop for Classes VI to VIII from 11 am to 11.45 am. A poster-making activity focused on digital reading, in collaboration with Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, is scheduled for students of Classes IX to XII from 12 pm to 12.30 pm.
Apart from children’s activities, the evening programme on February 17 will include a storytelling session by Chanchal Singha Roy and a performance by the Andaman and Nicobar Police Band from 5 pm onwards, adding to the cultural appeal of the fair.
With its mix of literary, creative, and cultural offerings, the book fair’s third day reinforced its role as a platform that brings books closer to young readers while creating a festive environment around reading and learning in the islands.
