The New Indian Express (Express Week) - Sunday, May 20, 2000 

Big words in small sizes
Ranjan De

Chennai now has its own exclusive reading hang-out for kids - Goodbooks at Abhiramapuram

What if you were 10 years old and a bookworm? What if you wished that there was a bookshop that sold books that only children of your age would like, and the bookshelves were your height, and there was a quiet corner where you could sit down, browse through a book before you actually bought it, without disapproving stares? Well, if you ever dreamt those dreams, they've finally come true.

Goodbooks Marketing, the marketing wing of Tulika Publishers, has opened Goodbooks Bookstore and Resource Centre. It is located in a quiet part of the city, away from the hustle and bustle, in Abhiramapuram. The bookshop stocks not only books from regular publishers, but also books by small and alternative publishers, non-government organisations and research and educational institutions. Over time, they intend to stock the best in reading that the world has to offer.

Jeeva Raghunath, manager, says, "We've started programmes like 'Reading Trail', which combines story telling with reading aloud from books and three-fourths of the membership fee of Rs. 200 goes back to the child when he or she buys a book from the bookshop". A great way to encourage the reading habit. The other programme currently on is 'Meeting Place', which takes place on Saturday evenings, where children get to meet and question well-known people from various walks of life like Leela Samson, the bharatanatyam dancer, and tennis champion Ramesh Krishnan. Two other programmes - 'Talking Point' and 'Theatre Workshop' - are on the anvil and will begin when the schools in the city reopen.