AppuWorld Books and Toys Library is a children’s library in Hyderabad that also caters to adults

Open the door to AppuWorld Books and Toys Library in Hyderabad and step into a world of books and stories. As you take in the quiet calm of the 2,000-square-foot space and its remarkable collection, you are greeted by parents and children, digital devices set aside, lost in the pages of their chosen books. In an age when reading among the young is often lamented as a dying habit, this library stands out as a space where generations come together to read.

Fascinated with public libraries

Aparna More Thakur
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

Located in TNGO’s Colony in Hyderabad’s Financial District, the nine-year-old Appuworld Library was founded by Aparna More Thakur, a former engineering lecturer. Inspired by vibrant public libraries she visited in the US and eager to nurture her four-year-old son’s reading habit, Aparna began by creating a small library at her home in Chandanagar in 2016.

While volunteering at a public library in Charlotte, North Carolina, she found time to read and explore new subjects. “As a swimmer, I was amazed to discover so many books on subtopics like synchronised swimming, water polo and diving,” she recalls. Her home library — with 300 books and a few toys — functioned as an online lending library offering home delivery. After two years, it moved to a modest space in the Financial District. “COVID was a testing time,” she admits. “The library remained idle as people were hesitant to step out, and I even considered shutting it down.”

Gradual rise

Parents and children spend time reading at the library
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

Surviving the pandemic brought an unexpected positive change that gradually boosted footfall at the library, which also includes a small section of toys. With children and adolescents increasingly drawn to screens during lockdown, parents began bringing them to the library to rekindle their love for reading. The steady rise in visitors encouraged Aparna to shift to the current 2,000-square-foot space in June 2024, allowing room for more books and weekend activities.

A bibliophile’s paradise
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

An avid reader herself, Aparna often struck up conversations with parents waiting for their children at the library . One such exchange proved transformative. “A mother once told me she was worried about her child’s reading habits but had never read anything beyond academic books,” Aparna recalls. “I told her, ‘Children imitate us — so pretend you are reading.’ It worked. She began reading, and soon enjoyed it herself.”

Space filled with racks of books at AppuWorld Books and Toys Library
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

That simple suggestion sparked a wider community of adult readers — many of whom had long lost the habit or never had the time to read. On weekdays, a few children and adults visit the library, but weekends see nearly 100 readers of all ages. The space comes alive with book club sessions for both children and adults, along with activity workshops that lend a festive air to the premises. “During summer, we have had teenagers who have read up to 60 books in a month!” she says with pride. “Even grandparents come and take separate subscriptions because their grandchildren refuse to share books. We offer unlimited access — we don’t want to stop anyone from reading,” she smiles.

A grandfather with his granddaughter enjoy reading together
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

Today, the Library houses over 22,000 books, most of it from her personal collection across genres in English, Hindi, Telugu, and a few in Sanskrit. Over 95% of its collection has been personally curated by Aparna. “I research and update titles regularly,” she explains. “I follow reading trends and include books recommended in Cambridge and IB summer reading lists, as well as those popular on children’s and adult literary platforms online.”

For someone who once wanted to specialise in teaching core subjects of electronics, Aparna is delighted to be writing a different story. “I never imagined myself as a librarian or an entrepreneur,” she says. “But the feedback I receive almost every day — even a simple ‘thank you’ from parents — keeps me going. It’s a kind of satisfaction I can’t quite put into words.”