Shishu Prohor brings colour to book fair

Little Arisha watched Royal Bengal Tiger on television, where the national animal was portrayed as a ferocious species. Therefore, when she saw a tiger (tiger puppet) coming out of the stage and approaching them, she was a bit frightened.
But later the tiger shook hands with her and posed for a photograph keeping her in his lap! Arisha screamed in excitement and joy.

Friday morning in the Amar Ekushey Book Fair was dedicated to children like Arisha, as the much-awaited Shishu Prohor (Children’s Hour) unfolded amid the radiant heat of the spring sun and the observance of Ramadan. And the children made most out of it with curiosity and excitement, turning a relatively subdued opening of the fair into a vibrant celebration of books and colours.

Inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday, this year’s fair is being held under a revised schedule due to the holy month of Ramadan. The fair runs daily from 2pm to 9pm, while on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays, gates open at 11am for Shishu Prohor, which continues until 1pm. General visitors can enter afterward, with entry allowed until 8:30pm.

On Friday, the children’s corner at the Bangla Academy premises turned lively with children sitting with colourful crayons and drawing books to attend art competitions and rhymes and puppet shows. The main attraction was a puppet show staged by Kaktarua Puppet Theater.

Zarifa, a toddler, wandered from stall to stall holding her mother’s hand before stopping in front of the puppet stage. Peeking repeatedly, she waited eagerly for the show to begin. 

As soon as a cheerful voice from behind the curtain called out to the children, they rushed forward and sat cross-legged on the carpet, their parents standing behind in neat rows.

The joy extended beyond puppetry. A small bioscope set up at the children’s corner drew curious crowds. Children lined up to look through its round window, fascinated by the rotating images inside. Eight-year-old Tamim Mahmud, visiting from Basabo with his uncle, experienced a bioscope for the first time. “Kites are flying inside, spinning wheels are turning. It is very beautiful,” he said in amazement. He also proudly showed a newly purchased book titled “Forty Hadiths: Children’s Stories.”

Nursery student Manha Junaira described the experience as “pictures dancing like songs,” while her cousin Tahrima Arisha wondered if it was “a short movie.” Bioscope operator Mohammad Robin explained with a smile that it is an old-fashioned form of entertainment in which pictures move in rotation, creating an illusion of life.

Asaduzzaman Ashiq, founder of Kaktarua Puppet Theater, said their puppet play featuring characters Apu and Dipu carries messages of friendship, cooperation and reading habits. “We thought attendance might be lower because of Ramadan, but the presence is quite good. We hope it will increase day by day,” he said. The largest stall at the children’s square belongs to the Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

Publisher Manjur Morshed said picture books, rhymes and mathematics-based fun books are drawing the most interest. However, he noted that attendance dipped after the Jumma prayers. Alongside the festive atmosphere, a drawing, poetry recitation and music competition was held at the Bangla Academy premises. Children illustrated scenes of the Language Movement and this year’s theme, “Multidimensional Bangladesh,” while waiting eagerly with their guardians for the results.

Participant Arian Rafi said he enjoyed drawing about the Language Movement, reflecting how such activities encourage creative development in a technology-driven age. Yet beneath the colorful vibrancy, signs of mismanagement were evident. Many stalls remained partially unprepared even on the second day.

Organisers attributed the delay to earlier uncertainty over the fair’s schedule and participation, resulting in last-minute construction work still ongoing. Parents also expressed disappointment over the absence of familiar characters from the popular television show Sisimpur. Without beloved figures like Halum or Ikri, some felt children’s enthusiasm was slightly diminished compared to previous years.

Rashed and Ayesha, who came from Azimpur with their three children, appreciated the painting sessions and puppet shows but described the fair as “somewhat lifeless” this year.

Morning attendance was noticeably lower than last year, though organisers said visitor numbers improved on the holiday.