1. What made you decide to write for a younger readership, and how do you go about developing a storythat appeals to young readers?
Children have an open mind to learn new concepts, explore new ideas, they have phenomenal grasping power, and can also learn different languages. These future ambassadors of our legacy can absorb information like a sponge.Therefore, our stories should be crafted in manners that would stimulate their minds.
2. Children’s novels frequently convey significant lessons. What morals or ideas did you want to get across in your most recent book?
Morals give a good closure, and a fulfilling end.. It’ssort of Justice that every reader wants to believe in.Therefore, I think it’s a must.. in my compilation , these moralistic ideas are replaced by a logical sequence or conclusion, through Rhyming couplets. Animations of environmental elements, animals, rainbows, rain, and personifications, butterflies, Trains are so very relatable and add authenticity.
3. Children’s books are mostly dependent on their illustrations. What was the creative process like, and how did working with the illustrator improve the storytelling?
Bal geeto aims at readers, starting from infants to grandparents. The book has kept in mind its appeal through vibrant colors, large animations, and also illustrated minor objects that feature in the poems.. This creative process required meticulous observations and proper judgment to make the subject matter appealing. How to reach the minds of children, so that they feel attracted to the objects and be drawn to pick up the book again
and again ?
4. Having a connection with young readers is crucial. In your children's books, how do you manage to combine entertainment and education?
ENTERTAINMENT:- I believe in the cliche,” all work and no play makes jack a dull boy”.. ( girl). Therefore, it’s important not to make learning difficult and boring.. A good teacher combines learning with fun such that it’s easy and enjoyable, lasting, effortless and joyous. Bal geeto is a compilation of vintage Gujarati poems that I grew up listening to from my mom, and she did from her mom.. these are household poems handed down from generations .
5. Your characters have a lovely sense of realism. Do you draw on your own childhood memories when creating characters that kids may relate to?
Their tunes are also the same, no changes there ! Hence these poems are absolutely authentic. The child is drawn to their familiarity, rhythm, lyrics, and most of all the illustrations of objects or characters that are personified and very relatable.
6. Children can get amusement in a variety of ways in the digital age. What part, in your opinion, do children’s books play in encouraging a love of reading and storytelling?
In today’s world which is dominated by technology, we have lost or forgotten our original authenticity-The joy of holding a paperback book is replaced by an E kindle.. The fun of sitting in libraries,ruffling the pages of the books to smell that typical woody, nutty fragrance is a far cry. It’s really not too late to go back to the real Books in this digital age, for posterity’s sake.
7. Books intended for young readers have a different vocabulary and writing style. How do you write with a level of sophistication that can advance with young readers while still making it engaging for them?
My poem book Bal Geeto has emerged from my love and appreciation for preservation of my mother tongue – GUJARATI. This language is fast fading due to inter caste marriages and getting replaced by English language. That is why I created a bilingual book with our vintage poems – First line of each poem is written in Gujarati and repeated phonetically in English.I have also made it audio – visual because in this unique presentation our heritage is preserved for posterity.
8. Children are often introduced to books through the help of their families and teachers. How do you see the use of your books in classrooms and as a component of family reading programs?
I envision a beautiful future for Bal Geeto. I see it in school libraries, as birthday gifts, and even incorporated as text books as a part of Gujarati syllabus. After all We must be proud of our mother tongue.
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