Kids News

Children's book launched

The Children's book Toran and the Alphabet Fairy by Nadishka Aloysius was launched at the Public Library, Colombo 7 recently.

Family members, friends and book lovers of all ages were present. The children participated in an interactive storytelling session with songs and games, as they followed the adventures of a little boy and his fairy friend who discover the world of reading through phonics.

They were shown the Children's Section of the Public Library and encouraged to browse through the vast collection of books.

The author's first children's publication, the book seeks to introduce the phonic sounds of the English alphabet through an engaging storyline, sticker activity and nursery rhymes.

It is suitable for children over four years. The book is available at Vijitha Yapa bookshop, Sarasavi, Samayawardena, Expographic, M. D. Gunasena, Lakehouse bookshop and Godage.

Prince George steals the limelight

New photographs of the British Royal Family have been released to celebrate the Queen’s birthday and the Royal Mail.

One of the stamp sheets feature the four generations of the Royal Family, photographed by Ranald Mackechnie.

Posing for the camera are the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and an extremely charming Prince George.

The happy portrait was taken in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace last summer.

Instead of being perched on someone’s lap, Prince George posed alongside his dad, grandfather and great-grandmother.

The postage stamp release also marks the postal service’s 500th anniversary.

Olympic torch lit in Greece

The flame for the Olympic Games in Brazil was lit in southern Greece.

An actor performing the role of high priestess lit the torch by using the sun’s rays.

The torch will be taken by runners on an international relay that will finish at the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on August 5.

The ritual was established 80 years ago for the Berlin Games, based on a ceremony in Ancient Olympia where games were held for over 1,000 years.

Actor Katerina Lehou, who lit the torch, wore a long pleated robe. She knelt on the ground and lit the torch within a few seconds by using a concave mirror to catch the sunlight.

The flame was then passed on to Greek gymnast Eleftherios Petrounias, the first runner in the torch relay.

Before the flame arrives in South America, it will begin a six-day relay across Greece, passing through the town of Marathon – which gave its name to the long distance race – as well as a camp for refugees and migrants in Athens.

The flame is due to arrive in Brazil on May 3 for a relay across the country, travelling through hundreds of cities and villages in every Brazilian state.

It will be carried by about 12,000 torch bearers.