CONTEST DEADLINE EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 30TH, 2017
September 30th is celebrated around the world as International Translation Day. At Pratham Books StoryWeaver we take translations very seriously! After all, it’s thanks to them that we’re able to take books to so many children across India, in a language they understand.
While children love to read stories and be read to, they also love to hear and see stories enacted! Which is why this year, for International Translation Day, we thought it was time to find and share more engaging, multilingual video resources with our community. That’s where you come in!

The StoryWeaver StoryCorner contest
It’s simple, we’re sharing a list of some of our original language and translated books which we think lend themselves beautifully to reading aloud. We want you to send us a video of yourself enacting the story or reading it out loud in the most engaging way possible. The best entry will win a book hamper from Pratham Books and a signed illustration by celebrated children’s book illustrator Rajiv Eipe.
Contest Guidelines and Rules
All entries must be uploaded to YouTube and the YouTube link shared with us along with a small note about yourself and the title of the story you chose via email to [email protected]
Entries must not be longer than 7 mins
Entries of the stories shared on this page alone will be considered for the competition.
Contestants must be 18 years and above to participate.
Participants can submit more than one entry.
Prizes can only be couriered to an address in India.
Tips and Tricks
Set your camera in landscape mode (horizontal)
Find a quiet space to film. Avoid filming near windows or in common shared spaces.
To reduce ambient noise, switch off fans, air conditioners and mixer grinders!
Remember your story could be used by our outreach partners in the classrooms they teach in. So while you might be telling the story to your camera, imagine there’s a bunch of kids listening! Really TELL the story.
Here are the books you can choose from
Pehelwanji learns a slippery lesson Available in Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Urdu and Telugu.
Not now, Not now in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Bengali, Odia, Telugu
Ting, Tong Telugu, Marathi, Eng-Kannada, Eng-Tamil, Eng-Hindi
I Want That One Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Urdu
Satya, Watch Out! Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil
Doong, Doong, Dum, Dum Hindi, Marathi, English-Hindi, English-Marathi, Juanga-Odia
Gulli’s Box of Things Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Bengali, Odia, Telugu, Gujarati
Mouse in the House Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada
Angry Akku Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil
Aunty Jui’s Baby Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Urdu
Smart Sona Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil
Ghum Ghum Gharial’s Amazing Adventure Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil
Tok Tok Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu
Asila Basila Uthila Jaucha Kui-Odia, Hindi, Marathi
What Happened to the Old Shawl? Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi
Translations of these stories in other languages do exist, however these are by community members. Do try and choose a story from the above list that has a ‘Recommended’ tag. If you can’t find the story you’d like to narrate in a language you’re fluent in, then do go ahead and translate the story on StoryWeaver and then use it!
You can download and print the story (or stories) you will be reading aloud, or read them from a mobile phone or tablet.
If you have any questions do write to us at [email protected]
Be the first to comment.

Q: What do you usually read? Which language do you prefer to read in?
A: I usually read in English and Marathi. I prefer to read English non-fiction.
Q: Do you have a favourite book / author and why is it a favourite?
A: My favourite book is 'Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankel. And why? Well, the name is self explanatory ☺
Q: You have contributed for us immensely. How has the StoryWeaver journey been?
A: StoryWeaver was an exciting experience for me. Being from the software field, writing for CMS based business websites was a routine thing for me. But translating & reviewing fiction for a digital platform and seeing it ‘going live’ in a moment was very exciting.
Q: What is one big take away from this experience?
A: My take away from this experience is that digital platforms are quite flexible (and quite forgiving, unlike print media). I learnt a lot about localizing the content while translating content from Indian cultures, other than my own. Once, I found nouns in one language were taboo words in another!
Q: How does it feel when your story gets published online?
A: Initially it feels different than print for sure. There is no wafting ‘fragrance’ of paper and ink, like in paper books. It took me a while to get used to the book ‘getting published’ at a click of a button on the digital platform.
Q: You have translated / reviewed a handful of stories for us. Which one has been your favourite and why?
A: My favourite is How Do Aeroplanes Fly? / विमानं उडतात तरी कशी? This book is not just about the science behind flying the aeroplanes, but also underlines the fact that women can do everything, and gender is not a hurdle if one wants to break the social barriers.

Q: What is your key driver in taking this up?
A: Like most Indian languages, Marathi too lacks quality content for young readers, especially in STEM topics. So I felt the need to do my bit.
Q: How else do you think we can join hands in taking bigger steps for children’s literature?
A: We can translate German books in Marathi and other Indian languages, and that too in our cultural context. I would love to help on that front. Also, I would love to help in conducting workshops for budding translators and teachers aiding the translations of StoryWeaver content.
Q: How has the overall experience with SW been?
A: The StoryWeaver experience was very rewarding. I got immense satisfaction while translating world-class books in my own language.
स्टोरीविव्हरवर वेगवेगळ्या कथा व पुस्तके अनुवादित करणं हा एक अनोखा अनुभव होता. जागतिक दर्जाची, सुंदर सुंदर चित्रं असलेली पुस्तकं स्वत:च्या मातृभाषेत आणतानाचा आनंद काही औरच!
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About us:
Pratham Books (www.prathambooks.org) is a not-for-profit children’s book publisher that was set up in 2004 to publish good quality, affordable books in many Indian languages. Our mission is to see ‘a book in every child’s hand’ and we have spread the joy of reading to millions of children in India. As a publisher serving every child in India, Pratham Books has always pushed the boundaries when it comes to exploring innovative ways in which to create access to joyful storybooks and have been fortunate in finding partners to collaborate with who share this vision.
In 2015, Pratham Books increased its footprint by going digital. As an industry leader, we were one of the first publishers in the country to open license our content. All this content is now available on StoryWeaver, which is a digital platform that hosts books in languages from India and beyond, so that every child can have an endless stream of storybooks in her mother tongue to read and enjoy. The books can be read, translated, versioned or downloaded for free.
Our Programmes:
StoryWeaver has created the following educator focused digital interventions:
Reading Programme - RP offers 144 beautifully illustrated multilingual age-appropriate storybooks that provide a rich reading experience to all children.
Foundation Literacy Programme - The FLP program consists of 90 storybooks in Hindi and Marathi across 6 reading levels for Grades 1 to 3.
STEM -Literacy Programme - Pratham Books’ StoryWeaver has created a comprehensive STEM literacy program for Grades 1 to 5 in five languages.
We are looking for an Associate Partnerships Manager for Maharashtra to join our Partnerships Team.
Scope of Work/ Duties:
As Associate Partnerships Manager, Maharashtra, your core responsibilities with Pratham Books StoryWeaver will include the following:
Partnerships & Project Management
Partnerships building with State Education Departments, Ed Tech Companies, NGOs and CBOs in the state of Chhattisgarh, in addition to other states
Identifying and bringing on board new Marathi language partners for STEM, FLP and Reading Programme
Identify partnerships for platform (content and features) adoption at scale
Serve as the primary point of contact for all operational questions about the project internally and externally
Create and maintain detailed timelines/work plans for all project deliverables and key milestones
Deliver project status updates to internal team and stakeholders
Support in preparing project launch, weekly check-ins, to identify and capture recommendations for future execution
Prepare monthly project reports, an end project report on best practices, challenges, case stories etc.
Capacity Building
Facilitate the planning of capacity building / training of various stakeholders in the program
Support organising and completion of capacity building for stakeholders
Support the team to prepare lesson plans and editable collaterals
Impact Documentation and Monitoring & Evaluation
Support in implementing the monitoring and evaluation of project operating within Reading Programme, FLP and STEM programmes, developing and maintaining the MIS of the project/s
Support the research agency to complete the baseline and endline evaluations and providing them with necessary support from the district functionaries
Submit monthly reports on the programme implementation, reflecting achievements made, challenges and solutions for donor agency, and other key stakeholders
Documenting project successes and learnings in the form of case studies, video stories and short films
Eligibility:
Post Graduate degree in Social Work/Sociology/Education/Management or any other relevant discipline
Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience of working with Government Education Departments
Dynamic person with good communication skills and zeal to learn
Should be fluent in writing and reading in English and Marathi
Should be able to work on word, PowerPoint and excel sheets
Should be able to write reports and minutes of meetings
Should be willing to travel within Maharashtra as the job requires extensive travel within the State
Reporting:
The Associate Partnerships Manager, Maharashtra will be directly reporting to the Senior Manager - Partnerships
Duration of the engagement:
1 year (starting from September 20th, 2022)
Location:
Pune
Compensation:
Compensation offered will be commensurate with the qualifications and experiences of the candidate
How to Apply:
Interested candidates can email their detailed CV by the 15th of October, 2022 to [email protected]. In the subject line, candidates must specify ‘Associate Partnerships Manager, Maharashtra’.
*Please note that only shortlisted candidates shall be notified by us.
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