Mumbai : In a heartening reaffirmation of the enduring appeal of books, over 100 children came together at the ‘READ with neOwn’ initiative at Kidz World Expo, World Trade Center Mumbai, spending time in collective silent reading as part of World Book Day celebrations.
Organised by neOwn, India’s first app-based book rental platform for children, the event brought together young readers aged 5 to 14, along with parents, for a shared reading experience designed to encourage focus, imagination and a deeper engagement with books in an age of growing digital distractions.
The event transformed a public space into a quiet reading zone, where children sat immersed in books they had brought along, demonstrating how the right environment can nurture a natural inclination towards reading.
Speaking on the initiative, Kranti Gada, Founder, neOwn, said, “There is often a belief that children today are moving away from books. What we witnessed at READ with neOwn was a reminder that when children are given the space and community to read, they respond with enthusiasm and focus. This was a celebration of what reading can spark in young minds.”
Commenting further, Gada added, “Parents today are looking for meaningful alternatives that help children slow down, focus and engage more deeply. Reading offers that possibility, and through initiatives like this we hope to make it more accessible and aspirational.”
Adding another layer to the experience, young published authors from BriBooks interacted with participating children, sharing their journeys as writers and introducing their books. The interaction offered young readers an inspiring glimpse into authorship, showing that storytelling can begin early.
As part of the event, all participating children also took the Million Readers Movement pledge, a social initiative led by neOwn that aims to inspire one million people (children and adults) to make reading a regular habit and encourage others to do the same. The pledge reflects neOwn’s broader mission of making reading a visible, shared and cultural practice.
The initiative comes at a time when conversations around children’s screen habits are intensifying. Against this backdrop, READ with neOwn sought to offer an alternative rooted in calm, concentration and community. Through curated book subscriptions, reading challenges, developmental workshops and a growing parent community, neOwn currently engages over 10,000 families across 340+ cities, working to strengthen reading habits among children through a sustained ecosystem approach.
With this initiative, neOwn brought that mission into a public setting, turning World Book Day into a collective reminder that reading books continues to resonate with young audiences when nurtured with intent.
