It's reading with pleasure at Oxford Junior

Kolkata, Aug 11: At a time when computer surfing and watching the idiot box rule the roost, ''Oxford Junior'', an exclusive bookstore dedicated entirely to the young minds from one to 18 years of age, has lent a ''delicious'' flavour to reading books.

''I am hungry and want more books '' or '' Aha what a feast '' were a few grafittis scribbled on the walls of the bookstore, the first of its kind in the country.

It was launched here yesterday along with its ''Little Cha Bar'', where they could sip and bite every inch of the books with healthy milk shakes, organic lassi, cookies and the exclusive apple flavored iced tea among others.

Inaugurating the store, Director of Prithvi Theatres, famous theatre personality and acting legend Prithvi Raj Kapoor's grand-daughter Sanjana Kapoor said books had always been her best companion and she derives ideas and inspirations for her dramas from them.

Stressing on creating interest among the young minds, she encouraged the children to present books to their friends on their birthdays instead.

Apeejay Group Director Priti Paul said,'' Reading along with healthy food are the habits that should be inculcated from an early age.'' ''Oxford Junior'' has a cosy ambience with cartoon characters at corners and wide range of ''delicious'' books from cartoons to detective stories to arouse interest among the children.

Children, claded in their favourite animated characters like Superman, Harry Potter, Wriggle book worms, Mowgli, came up with their Book Anthem ''books, books ,books wonderful books, books are good in all season and are good in every season.'' Asked on the need for having a separate store for children, Swagato Mukhopadhyay, a class five student, dressed up as famous detective character, created by Satyajit Ray, ''Feluda'' said, '' We get lost among the elders and always want something where we could be ourselves. '' An excited and enthusiast Yashley Ruben Thamar of the same class said that it is a journey of self-discovery, and said he likes to possess books and had a collection of 35 books of different authors.

However, the refreshing and relaxing space with an urbane and elite look does not cater to the needs of several those underprivileged children. Asked upon any special arrangements for such children, a member of the organisation told UNI they have targeted the children of the elite group, which was the only matter of tongue-in-cheek.

The bookstore would act as a platform to exhibit the talents of several budding artists as painters, singers and many more, said Marketing executive of Child in Need Institute Priyanka Sarkar.

''Some books are to be chewed, some to be swallowed and some to be digested, '' this epoch-making comment of litterateur Francis Bacon has off late turned to be true.

UNI