Lucknow: The city museum, Lucknow Bioscope organized a storytelling session for children at the Kaiser Bagh venue on Sunday evening.Hosted by theatre practitioner and storyteller Apurva Shah, the session, ‘Of Courage and Feminism’ saw an active participation from children in which she dramatically read out picture books like ‘Freedom Braids’ and ‘The Girl Who Makes Million Mistakes’.Storybooks recognised by honours such as the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award and the Amelia Bloomer List were also presented by Shah.Blending voice modulation, movement and expressive narration, she created an immersive experience that kept children attentive and involved, often drawing laughter and thoughtful responses. The session emphasised that courage holds greater value than perfection, encouraging children to embrace their voices and individuality. “Stories are the most powerful way to reach a child’s inner consciousness,” said Shah.Children enjoyed the entire session giving their own perspectives on the stories.Nafisa, a Class 4 student, said she aspired to be like Millie, the protagonist from ‘The Girl Who Made Million Mistakes,’ a character who embraces her errors and learns from them.Shah encouraged the sentiment and said, “Every girl should be strong and turn her mistakes into motivation.” Maria, a resident of Lalbagh, stood out as the sole adult attendee, sharing that the session gave her a chance to revisit her childhood and relive the simple joy of stories. “I have always loved reading stories, and this felt like a chance to relive that joy,” she said.
