Fri Dec 27 16:31:51 UTC 2024: ## Chennai Book Fair Opens with Focus on Children’s Literature
**Chennai, India (December 27, 2024)** – The 48th Chennai Book Fair opened its doors on Friday, featuring over 900 stalls showcasing around 100,000 titles. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi inaugurated the event at YMCA Nandanam, with several other dignitaries in attendance.
This year’s fair places a strong emphasis on children’s literature, offering a wide selection of books beyond the standard school curriculum. Secretary of the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (Bapasi), S.K. Murugan, highlighted this focus, citing high demand for such titles. The fair also boasts several new features including dedicated relaxation rooms, participation from international publishers (including an American Center booth and a Japanese stall), and over 1 million free admission tickets for students. Painting and oratory competitions are also planned.
To cater to a wider audience, the fair includes a significant number of translated works and books by new authors. An early start date, before the Pongal festival, aims to accommodate readers returning to their hometowns. The fair offers a 10% discount on all books and will run until January 12, 2025, with extended hours on weekends.
First Piper 