Your child already reads on their own. What they may not yet have is a small circle of friends who are reading too — kids their own age, on a Saturday, swapping books and telling each other what is worth picking up next.
Readathon Live is a small, live reading circle for independent readers aged eight to twelve. Eight children meet over video for one real hour every Saturday, for six weeks beginning the twentieth of June. ₹899 for all six weeks.
What this is
It is hosted by a young reader, not a grown-up — because a kid telling you a book is brilliant lands completely differently than an adult telling you to read. A responsible adult is on every call for safety and to keep time, but the circle belongs to the children.
That is the whole thing. We have kept it deliberately small and deliberately simple.
Inside the hour
A session has a shape, and not much more. Each child checks in with what they are reading. There is a game — Word Ladder, Story Telephone, the First Line Game, book-guessing games — the part everyone shows up early for. One or two children pitch a book they have loved. The circle chews on a single question together: what surprised you, which character would you be, what would you change. A small make-and-show carries forward across the weeks. And a one-line close, enough to leave them looking forward to next Saturday.
By the sixth week, each child has something of their own to show — and a small circle of friends who read.
The week between
Between sessions, your child simply reads what they enjoy — from home, from school, from the library. The weekly hour is the heartbeat; the rest is just reading, for the joy of it.
The only gentle pull is a happy one: you read because you want something to share on Saturday. If your family likes a routine, twenty minutes a day is a lovely anchor — but it is an offer, not a rule. If a week gets busy, nothing breaks; your child simply comes back to the circle the next Saturday.
Who hosts the hour
Sarangi · Host
Our host this season is Sarangi, an eleven-year-old unschooler and voracious reader. The last five books she has finished are The Homebound by Rosemary Marandi, An Absence of Squirrels by Aparna Kapur, Jacky Daydream by Jacqueline Wilson, The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold, and The Train to Tanjore by Devika Rangachari.
Sarangi runs the hour — the check-in, the game, the book pitch, the talking. She does it because a child who genuinely loves a book is the most credible reading recommendation any other child will ever get. (Ask any parent who has been told to read more, and then quietly ignored.)
Arasu · Holding the space
In the background of every session is Arasu Gunasekaran. He is not the teacher; the circle is the children’s. He keeps the hour safe, keeps the time, and watches developments quietly — ready to step in if something needs care, and otherwise out of the way. He also helps weave the play element through the hour, because play is the part most children remember weeks later.
Arasu spent nearly three years as a teaching assistant at Rumney Elementary School in New Hampshire (November 2016 – June 2019), supporting diverse learners in inclusive classrooms, developing individualised approaches for students with varying needs, and building relationships with students, families, and educators. The lesson he carried away from that work: the best teaching creates space for genuine discovery, not curriculum delivery — and the best adults in the room learn to hold it and then be quiet. More on his work here →
Our promise, and your part
We would rather you knew exactly what you are signing up for.
We promise a real, live hour every week for six weeks. Eight children — small enough that everyone is seen and heard. A warm young host, with a responsible adult always present. A space where reading is social, playful, and led by kids. A final showcase where your child shows something they made. And honesty about what this is, and what it is not.
Your part is gentler: help your child be there for the live hour each Saturday. Let them read whatever they like through the week. Let the circle be theirs — be nearby for tech, but off the call. Come and watch the showcase at the end. And tell us early if something is not working. We listen.
Who this is — and isn’t — for
This is for your child if they are roughly eight to twelve and already read on their own; if they would love some company and conversation around books; if they would light up talking books with other kids; or if you want one hour that competes with the screen — and wins.
This isn’t the right fit if your child is not reading independently yet; if you are looking for a curriculum with levels, tests, or grades; or if a fixed weekly hour will not fit your family’s schedule.
What parents told us
This is definitely an engaging exercise for kids to encourage reading. The good thing about this activity is that I became a more frequent reader than before. Rithvik usually reads, but the consistency definitely improved. The daily messages on the group were curious, informative, and interactive. Subbu · Parent of Rithvik · Season One
It made quite a change in her reading habit. Hope to continue with the same momentum. Sweta Shet · Parent · Season One
On the days we sat together, it was beautiful and I could see his interest in reading growing. In general, his interest has increased a little for sure. The Readathon was also very helpful for me to see the kind of books he likes. Yamuna V Gopal · Parent · Season One
Good to know
When and where?Saturday mornings, online over video, for six weeks from 20 June. We confirm the exact time with the eight families once the group is set, so it works for everyone.
Is it really led by a child?Yes — Sarangi runs the hour. Arasu is on every call for safety and to keep time, but the circle belongs to the kids.
Do we need to buy books?No. Your child reads whatever they like — from home, school, or a library. No list, no prescribed reading.
What if my child misses a week?Completely fine. It’s a circle, not a course — they simply rejoin the following Saturday.
What about screen time?This is the alternative, not more of it. One hour that sends them back to books, because their friends are reading too.
How do we join?Message us on WhatsApp using the button below. Only eight spots — we’ll confirm yours personally, share UPI details, and add you to the coordination group once payment is done.
Eight readers. Six Saturdays. Starts 20 June.
ஓதாமல் ஒருநாளும் இருக்க வேண்டாம். Let not a single day pass without the pursuit of learning. Konṟai Vēndan
If your child reads on their own and would love a circle of fellow book-lovers, we would love to have them. ₹899 for all six weeks.
Only 8 spots. We’ll confirm your spot and share payment details on WhatsApp. Once they’re full, we open a short waitlist for the next circle.
Curious how we arrived here? Read the story in our Notes →