At Bookworm, we believe that every child deserves the joy of reading books. The HBL programme, apart from curating playsets, also conducts sessions for children with special needs. Beyond the books on the shelves, we strive to make the library a nurturing ecosystem, a place where every child feels the quiet encouragement to explore at their own pace. Through our HBL Playsets, we bridge the gap between books and the child by providing tactile materials and other activities. This ensures that every child has the specific tools they need to engage with stories in a way that feels safe and accessible.
In the month of January, we got the opportunity to hold a session for the children with special needs from People’s School. Following their initial exposure visit, SFAL requested to return to the library regularly. We now schedule sessions at periodic intervals based on their availability, and this month marked their fourth visit.
The children of SFAL (People’s High School) visited the Bookworm Mala library on January 21, 2026. The group consisted of 15 children, accompanied by 4 teachers and support staff. We began the visit with a warm welcome and our Bookworm song to set a positive tone for the day.
We introduced book browsing through a “Magic Box” filled with props that were tactile . After a brief demonstration, the children were invited to pick a toy from the box and find a matching book. With a little guidance, they soon became fully engaged in the search and successfully paired their props with books, which brought them a visible sense of achievement.
The next activity, “Musical Books,” was even more action-packed. We played popular children’s songs, and it was a joy to watch the children dancing and moving to the music. Although Angel’s limited mobility prevented her from moving with the group, she remained at the heart of the activity, staying involved by working on puzzles within the circle. The activity was adapted to ensure Angel’s participation.
The younger children enjoyed playing in the green room, while others explored their favorite themes in the light orange room. The children responded well to the dedicated browsing and quiet reading time. This quiet reading time was a moment of peace and safety to the children. Shiba shared that she loved The Little House, and Noina was particularly captivated by Prince with a Paintbrush. When asked about the day, the children responded with wide smiles; Sonal highlighted the musical books as his favorite part, while others expressed how much they enjoyed the quiet reading time.
The teachers shared that for their children, the library has become more than just a place for books, it is a sanctuary where they feel truly seen, safe, and at home.
What struck me most was the children’s pure joy in browsing books and how the library space allowed them to truly be themselves. Most of all, it was beautiful to witness the natural bonding and peer support among the children.
Books referred to in the blog:
The Little House written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton, Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2009.
Prince with a Paintbrush by Shobha Tharoor Srinivas, Illustrated by: Rayika Sen, published by: Red Panda in 2023.
Blog written by: Daisy D’souza