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The importance of picture books and illustrations in children’s development cannot be over emphasized. Children learn to read pictures much before they learn to read text. Therefore, richly illustrated picture books play an important role in engaging children in the process of reading. In India, where a large number of children attending government schools are first generation learners who lack a print environment at home, pictures become the first medium of introducing them to stories and the world around them.
The Riyaaz Academy for Illustrators was set up in 2015 as a platform for budding artists and young illustrators to explore different forms of illustrations. The 11 month certificate course aims to refine the perception, professional skills and intellect of students interested in illustration, especially picture book illustration. Young students are encouraged to look at illustrations from a child’s point of view and being sensitive to the fact that children in India today are growing up in a multilingual and multicultural world. Riyaaz illustrators bring in humour in their work because children enjoy that the most. At the same time they address social biases, champion values of sustainable development, equality of gender, caste and religion and break stereotypes. Riyaaz was set up jointly by Parag and Eklavya, Bhopal along with illustrator Atanu Roy. While Riyaaz is only in its second year, students have already illustrated books and magazines for several publishers including Pratham Books, Eklavya, NCERT, Room to Read and Agha Khan Foundation.