“May no child be devoid of the magic of stories!” This is the mantra that storyteller Swati Kheria of Little Readers’ Nook swears by. A former information analyst turned storyteller, Swati never picked up a storybook in her life…until her little daughter preferred to read books over playing with toys. There has been no turning back for this Kolkata based storyteller. Someone who believes in cultivating the ‘attitude of gratitude’ and spreading smiles through stories – stories of love and kindness, Swati feels children are just like plants that must be nurtured to bloom and grow. The storyteller in her wishes to touch the hearts of as many children in the city as possible.
Here are some excerpts of our chat with Swati about her journey from a non-reader to a dedicated storyteller and her experiences with storytelling.
What influenced you to become a storyteller?
I was not an avid reader during my childhood and would always be clueless when my friends discussed books. Even books awarded to me as prizes, were borrowed and read by my classmates rather than me. Textbooks, thankfully, were an exception. My perception of storybooks changed when my daughter preferred books over toys. She loved when I read them aloud to her. Soon I was choosing stories from various corners and built quite a collection. But I realized that there was something missing. The correct selection of literature, suitable for tiny tots was what I was looking for. That’s when my cousin in Mumbai suggested Little Readers’ Nook to me. I was enthralled by its unique weekly storytelling program and instantly decided to register. I could not wait to share the well-curated hand-picked stories with my daughter and her friends who were the first few listeners in my story sessions.
Tell us the story of your venture – Creative Caterpillar
I have been assisting with my family’s export business of leather goods since my marriage in 2009 and am a former information analyst. But it was my daughter who made me realize that I feel happiest in the company of curious littles. I conducted my first workshop for her and her friends during a midweek break in September 2015 – a three day fun art-and-craft workshop with different innovative themes and stories on each day. The children enjoyed it immensely and the mothers longed for more such sessions for their kids. This gave birth to my brand – “Creative Caterpillar” – under which I conducted occasional workshops for children in their holidays. Soon the number of sessions grew, fueled by a demand from parents. And since then there has been no looking back for Creative Caterpillar.
What are the kind of audiences you work with? Which is your favorite audience?
My audience comprises of children aged 2 to 6 years. I love being a child with them and enjoy all the drama and fun activities as much as they do. Their creative thinking amazes me. Every child that listens to my stories absorbs a different aspect, different incidences from the same narration, and takes back home their own unique interpretations. I feel elated to be a “story-teller mom” and enjoy every minute of experiencing the beautiful world of stories with my daughter.
How have the stories in your life influenced your style of storytelling and the way you use stories?
Since childhood I have been inclined to learning. Even today I see this learning curve growing steeper. Meeting people from varied backgrounds does impact us. We learn from each other and transform us which reflects in our stories. I too have transformed as a storyteller in the past year since the time I started. Hoping I continue to learn from ‘man & nature’ and incorporate it in my narrations to bring stories to life!
Any particular incident/anecdote from your workshops/sessions that is special to you?
Testimonials from parents that say “My child is a fan of Swati Aunty”, “Your class is the only one my child wants to attend.” are extremely special to me and boost my confidence as an educator. It gives me immense pleasure when my little reader goes back home and narrates the story to his parent.
My little one waits for my class the whole week. She creates her own stories and goes around the house narrating it to her grandparents with surprisingly accurate expressions and gestures. There is, for me, a wonderful satisfaction in seeing this.
Any story that you particularly love using?
My personal favorite is the first story I told – “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen” The rhyme, the rhythm and the repetition in the story engages the audience at once and it resonates in the child’s mind until much later.
- Buy We’re Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen on Amazon (IN) and Amazon.com
Do you think storytelling can be adopted as a full-time profession? What would you advise to those who want to do so?
Yes. “The planet does not need more successful people. The planet does need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds.”
Read a story, make it your own and then narrate it from the heart to another heart. You will soon have a fan following.
Your advice to parents and teachers on why and how they should keep stories alive.
We are all made of stories. And yes, stories are magical. They have the power to heal. So let there be magic in our lives. All we need to do is keep looking for it and believe in it!
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Swati Kheria is a storyteller with Little Readers’ Nook. Read more about Little Readers’ Nook here.
Don’t Miss: We love storytellers as much as we love storytelling. On Tell-a-Tale, we’ve featured a lot of talented storytellers, in the past.
Are you a Storyteller? If you’re a storyteller who is actively pursuing storytelling and would like to be featured in this column, drop us a mail at contact AT tell-a-tale.com or reach out to us via Facebook.
