I have authored children's books and do storytelling with my handmade eco- friendly puppets.

I specially do storytelling to children in trauma and cheer them up. I help in their emotional and psychological through my stories as I believe , it is like a soothing balm. I have done storytelling in conflict areas, hospitals and schools.

I use puppets, music and drama in my performances. I have been doing storytelling workshops for children both in the urban and rural regions.

I am Vijaylakshmi Nagaraj, educationist, author of children's books and a storyteller. I have worked in this field for over 25 years.

I have travelled all over India and have used storytelling in learning and encouraging children to read. I have showcased Indian Traditional stories through storytelling in Cape Town, South Africa and Copenhagan , Denmark at the IBBY Conferences.

I have trained Librarians and teachers in the art of storytelling . I have worked with various NGOs in India specially working with children in the villages and rural areas. I teach children to make puppets and use it in their creative stories.

I stayed with the tsunami orphans in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu and through my storytelling sessions facilitated the recovery of children who had gone through the trauma. Children who had become silent after the Tsunami started interacting with me during storytelling and the smiles were back .

I have been storytelling to children suffering from cancer and helped them cheer up inspite of the pain. These sessions have proved that storytelling was beyond medicine in the healing process. In conflict areas the library that I had started is very popular among children. The teachers who were trained by me to integrate storytelling to classroom learning are continuing to do so.

1.Jhilmil the Butterfly- TERI, New Delhi, 2005

2.SunMagic - TERI, New Delhi,2005

3. Anytime Stories 1 and 2 - Reader's World , New Delhi, 2002

4. Folktale in Once Upon a Time in India , Macmillan, New Delhi,

5. Rhino Charge - Pratham Books, Bengaluru, 2010

6. The Natural Wonders of India , TERI ( to be published) 2012