1 2 3 Udupi: A woman from Manipal has built a community of young readers through Purple Space, a children's library and activity lounge. Pallavi Cruz started this library seven years ago, with a unique vision. Inspired by her habit of reading to her children even before they were born, Pallavi began the library with a personal collection of around 2,500 books.
Today, Purple Space has grown to house over 7,000 children's books. She recently introduced the concept of ‘Library at Your Doorstep', allowing children to rent, read, and return books from the comfort of their homes. Since her pregnancy, Pallavi collected and curated books for her children, making her library a personal hand-picked collection.
She told TOI: "Parents can start reading aloud, to their children, even before they are born, or as soon as they arrive. I did this with my kids and witnessed its profound impact. Not only on them, but also on other children who developed a reading habit early," she said.
However, Pallavi acknowledges a common reluctance among children to walk into libraries just to read. "I have noticed that reading is often associated with grades and academic pressure, turning it into a chore rather than an enjoyable activity. Reading has rarely been portrayed as a fun, bonding experience with parents or teachers.
To change this perception, we conduct engaging activities that connect children with books in a way they enjoy. This not only increases a love for reading, but also positively impac.
