The evergreen Neena Gupta narrates ‘One, Two, Three, Sumon is Free’ and shares a simple habit for kids to remember: “You should brush your teeth until you sing the birthday song thrice, and don’t forget to eat your greens and dairy!”
Talking about The Little Festival, she added, “It’s great to see what The Mumbai LitFest is doing, and everyone should definitely visit, and experience these wonderful sessions.”
Actress Soni Razdan, who narrated the book as well, shared, “Kids eat a lot of sugar, and they need to be educated about its implications in a fun way.”
Talking about children using social media and the importance of reading, she added, “These days, kids are introduced to technology and social media at a very young age, however, parents are getting conscious about this now. It’s our duty to help them develop the habit of reading, as that’s how their imagination grows. Books are a beautiful mix of entertainment, education, and creativity. It’s lovely how The Little Festival has collaborated with NGOs, giving so many wonderful kids the chance to experience it.”
In the “Toothy Tales” session at the Little Festival of Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest, in collaboration with the HT Parekh Foundation, children fought along with a superpower to defeat the sugar monster in their mouth in this bilingual storytelling session. Set to music and a read-aloud experience of the book ‘One, Two, Three, Sumon is free’, co-authors Shalini Pradhan and Rashmi Mehta, alongside actors Neena Gupta and Soni Razdan brought alive how Dr Save You, brings justice to Sunny Smile.
While Shalini Pradhan and Rashmi Mehta creatively share facts on oral health by impersonating ‘Sumon’ and ‘Dr. Save You’, they talk about how sugar is as addictive as a video game. The session blended humour, imagination, and gentle lessons on oral health in a way that delighted both children and parents.
The Little Festival at Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest, presented in collaboration with HT Parekh Foundation, actively promotes joyful reading among children aged 8 to 13 through its Doorbeen initiative via workshops, trails, tree walks, performances, and other hands-on activities. This year, The Little Festival specially focuses on inclusion and accessibility, continuing to nurture the timeless love of stories for all young readers.
