By A.J. O'CONNELL

Villager Staff Writer

WILTON -- When Seema Saksena was growing up in India, her childhood was filled with motion, color and people: She lived in a house with 30 family members. Now a resident of the United States, Saksena has lived in Wilton for two decades and raised her own two children in a quiet, wooded cul-de-sac. When her son and daughter visit the Saksena family home in India, they are usually overwhelmed by the difference between home life in Wilton and in India.

"When they visit, for them, it's like a party all the time," she said.

On Saturday, Saksena will share that difference with other Wilton children in the Wilton Library's second International Folklore and Fantasy program.

The program, an offshoot of the library's adult international book group, brings Wilton residents from other countries to the library to talk about their homeland, read stories from that country and answer children's questions.

"The library has a very good folklore and fantasy collection," said library assistant Barbara Jones.

Jones originated both the child and the adult series, which has been running for almost three years.

"We ask a Wilton resident who was born in another country and ask her to select a book that might be popular in her country but which we might not have heard of -- it must have been translated into English -- and we ask her to discuss the book," said Jones.

While the adult series is based around a book, the children's series is based on the library's folklore collection and the tales of the speaker. The first installment, held last weekend by library employee Nevine Michaels, was based on Michaels' experiences as a child growing up in Cairo, Egypt.

Saksena, who also works for the library, will bring in a map to discuss the four cultures which make up India.

"There are four different cultures and traditions," she said. She hopes to read some stories from each.

There were 23 people at last week's Egypt presentation, said Jones. She hopes that Saksena's presentation will also be well-accepted. The library is planning two other folklore and fantasy programs this spring.

On March 14 Wiltonian Cinthia Goncalves will offer a program on Brazil. On March 28, a program on Korea will be presented by Inja Chung. For parents interested in the adult programs, the next international book group will be based on Danish author Peter Hoeg's novel "Smilla's Sense of Snow." The April 23 program, for which advanced registration is required, will be led by Eva Jorgensen. In May, a program on Finland will be led by Marika LeFevre.

The Wilton Library's international folklore and fantasy program about India will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. at the library on Saturday, Feb. 28. Registration is required. For more information, visit http://www.-wiltonlibrary.org/.
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