Kerala State Institute of Children's literature was established in 1981 under the cultural Affairs Department of Government of Kerala so as to publish quality children's literature in Malayalam language.

To publish and popularize books on children's literature, to encourage reading habit among children, to conduct literary competitions for children etc are the other objectives of the institute.

This prestigious institution is unique in the service it provides and has contributed a lot in the field of language and literature for children.

Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature is an autonomous organisation functioning under the Cultural Department of The Government of Kerala. The chairman of the Governing body of the Institute is Minister for Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Kerala.

• Activities:

Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature came into being in the year 1981 with the committed aim of promoting and publishing children's literature. Functioning under the Cultural Department, it is the only one of its kind in India. The Institute is vigorously and commendably engaged in cultivating and promoting the reading habits of children by publishing children's literature in all its diversity and richness. The following are the main functions of the Institute.

1. Publishing
The books published by the Institute make reading easy and enjoyable for children of any and every ages. This includes Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Scientific literature, General Knowledge books, books that supplement and complement the curriculam, translations, biographies etc. It is a comprehensive list of 559 books so far.

2. Balakairali Encyclopedia
One of the aims of the Institute is the publishing of Balakairali Encyclopedia. Giving due importance to a wide range of subjects, the institute has so far come up with 6 volumes of Encyclopedias. Kalayum Samskaravum, Jeevalokam, Manava Charithram, Bhashayum Sahithyavum, Lokarashtrangal and Sankethika vidya are some of the topics covered.
Apart from this, the Institute has also brought out a reference book on the great Indian freedom struggle - Desiya Swathanthrya Samara Charithram- as it is called other voluminous books on Indian History are shortly to be broughtout.

3. Thaliru
The Institute also brings out a magazine for children called 'Thaliru'. Thaliru remains the only children's magazine to be published by a Government agency. The publication which was started in 1995 has now undergone an attractive face lift both in appearance and content.

4. Dictionaries
The Institute has come out with two Dictionaries - meant not only for children but for all those who show an avid interest in linguistics. Opposites and synonymes of commonly and not so commonly used words form the content of one dictionary. While the second one is a Malayalam - Hindi Dictionary meant for students. About 15,000 malayalam words are given their hindi equivalents in this Dictionary.

5. Thaliru Scholarship Competition
Every year the Institute conducts Thaliru Scholarship contest for upper primary and high school children. Around three lakhs students participate in these contests. This scholarship contest has lately been given a change over to a competition meant to promote the reading habits of students.

6. Literary Contests
Apart from this contest, the institute also conducts competitions in short story, poetry and painting at state level for upper primary and high school children.
Another interesting competition conducted by the institute is the one for manuscript - magazines. Roping in the Vidyarangam Kala Sahithyavedi of schools, the institute also conducts literary fests in various places.

7. Bala Sahitya Award
Recognising and promoting excellence in children's writing has always been the main aim of the Institute. With this purpose the Institute has constitued a Bala Sahitya Award. Story, Novel, Play, Information Science, Stories retold/translation, Illustrations are the topics covered by this award. An attractive prize money of Rs. 10,000 along with a memento makes up this award.

8. Comprehensive - Contribution award
This award goes to the most outstanding children's writer for his comprehensive contribution. The first person to win this award which was instituted in the year 1998 was the noted poet Kunjunni Mash. The award is named after the former Director of the Institute - the late C G Santhakumar. A prize money of Rs 50,000 and memento forms the award.

9. Workshops and Seminars
The Institute regulary conducts literary camps for children and children's writers at district, state and national levels. Apart from this, during summer vacations, Thaliru vacation camps are also conducted. Literati and noted experts from various fields are invited to these camps so the camp presents excellent opportunity for the participants to have face to face interaction with these noteworthy people.

10. Book Exhibition
With the active participation of schools and Vidyarangam kala Sahithyavedi the Institute conducts state - wide book exhibition on a regular basis. Other publishers also join hands to make these exhibitions a huge success. Besides, the Institute also actively takes part in the Book Exhibition conducted by such bodies like Kerala Grandhasala Sangham, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan etc. Through these book fairs and exhibitions the Institute plays a dynamic role in promoting and cultivating the reading habits of the children of the state.

11. Distribution of books
Another important function of the Institute is in seeing that the books published reaches the myriads of school children of the state. With this end in view it conducts Book Fairs in schools regularly. 2 day long Book Fairs are conducted in selected schools in the state. The fairs are receiving overwhelming response where ever it is being conducted. The school Book Fairs inaugurated in the district of Thiruvananthapuram, are now being taken to the other districts as well. To facilitate the distribution of books among school children books are sold at heavy discount rate at these fairs. Besides Kerala Book Marketing Society and other like agencies are also roped in to facilitate the purpose of reaching books to as many school children as possible.

Awards

To promote and recognise meritorious children's writers, the Institute gives away awards in various literary sections. Awards for excellance in writing for story, novel, play, informative writings, translation and illustration. The award was constituted in the year 1990 and given below is the list of the award receipiants. Besides the most outstanding children's writer is honoured with a special award for his comprehensive contribution towards children's literature. This award was instituted in the year 1998.

For more information, visit: www.ksicl.org