A children’s library in Hyderabad where stories shape values

Saturday mornings are at their busiest at Kathatitam in Hyderabad. Tucked away on the fifth floor of a complex in a quiet Gachibowli lane, the library-cum-cultural space opened in August, 2025, with its village-themed décor and calming ambience, transports young readers into another world. When we visit, the children pause their reading to welcome Lakshmi, a farmer, for a storytelling session.

Shilpa Kiranveer as Lakshmi, a farmer during a storytelling session
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“Dear friends, I am nowhere close to being qualified to play a farmer. It is a deeply respected profession, and I am honoured to step into this role,” says storyteller and founder Shilpa Kiranveer, as she slips into character to explain the significance of Sankranti for farmers. For the next 15 minutes, she becomes Lakshmi — a woman who works the land, contributes to food production, manages her household and cares for her children. Through expressive narration, Shilpa brings the lives of women farmers vividly alive for her young audience.

Shilpa began her professional life as a software engineer before motherhood drew her towards education. She went on to teach at Vidyaranya High School for seven years, where she became closely involved with library work. “I completed my library educators’ course at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), which truly opened my heart and mind to what reading can do for children, especially at a young age,” she says.

Medium to convey messages

During a session
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Collecting books for her four boys was not just about building a reading habit, it became a way to communicate values. Whenever she faced a parenting roadblock and wanted to make a point without lecturing, Shilpa turned to stories. “Many situations arise that families are not equipped to discuss. Stories help simplify them, and children understand. It also eases tension at home,” she says.

She soon noticed her children absorbing values through books. While her storytelling sessions in schools were popular, Shilpa felt they fell short. “Children enjoyed them, but they weren’t reading,” she recalls. This prompted her to rework the format into a storytelling-led value education programme. One-on-one sessions helped her understand a child’s academic, social and emotional world, while also drawing input from parents.

Books at the library
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“Reading aloud proved to be key,” she adds. “Anyone can read, but comprehension doesn’t come naturally. That habit needs to be built.”

Traditional decor

Co-founder Kiranveer PN; (Right) Space designed like a traditional village with muggulu on the walls
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

These experiences led Shilpa to launch Kathatitam, a children’s library-cum-cultural space. Derived from Telugu and Sanskrit, Kathatitam means ‘going beyond stories’. Designed like a traditional village, with muggulu (or kolam) adorning the walls, the space is meant to calm children, nurture a reading habit and spark curiosity across genres, authors and forms of literature. “I see them grow more confident in expressing their thoughts, listening respectfully and being open to different opinions. They also develop critical thinking,” she says.

As a cultural space, Kathatitam collaborates with artists and practitioners from the worlds of art, music and culture who share its values, including sustainability and a zero-plastic ethos. Alongside productions such as Popsicle Productions’ On Shared Childhood, the space also hosted open-mic event for adults by Unruled Mic. Collaborations, however, are carefully curated. “We want the space to resonate with our values. We always ask, ‘What value are we offering the audience or reader?’ If there is none, there is no learning,” Shilpa explains.

At a time of growing concern over the impact of social media on children and teenagers, Kathatitam has taken a clear stand. Its social media posts never feature children.

A child reads a book at the library
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“It’s a conscious decision,” says Shilpa. “The first rule when working with children is to safeguard their physical, emotional and mental well-being. We don’t believe social media is safe for them. And I find it uncomfortable when someone points a phone at me while I’m reading.”

Kathatitam’s events are listed on Instagram: @kathatitam.

Published – January 27, 2026 02:06 pm IST