Delight as Sennuri’s book is launched
YOUNG readers are regular visitors to Gorey Library, but it’s rare that the venue hosts a young writer.
Eleven-year-old author Sennuri Wickramaratne was recently joined in the library for the launch of her new illustrated storybook for children ‘ The Lost Creatures’.
More precisely, Sennuri is actually an eight-year-old author, as she wrote it three years ago, and only got to publish it recently.
Sennuri, who is a pupil at Bunscoil Loreto Gorey, not only wrote the story of a mysterious creature that fell from the clouds and befriended a young girl, but she also created the colourful illustrations which accompany the narrative.
Many of Sennuri’s friends from school and home joined her for the launch which was also attended by her sister Swetha and parents Nalin and Duleeka.
The Wickramaratne family are originally from Sri Lanka, but Sennuri has spent most of her life in Gorey. The book has also had a launch in Sri Lanka, and those present at the Irish launch enjoyed a selection of delicious Sri Lankan foods as well as Irish food.
Local councillor Malcolm Byrne was delighted to be asked to launch ‘ The Lost Creatures.’ ‘For somebody so young to have written a book is great,’ he said, emphasising the importance of reading for young people.
‘Books inform us, they educate us, and they challenge us,’ he said. ‘I’d say to any young person thinking of writing a book, to do it.’
He described Sennuri’s book as very colourful and very readable. ‘I think it’s incredible for someone to have written a book at eight years-of-age, and then to have it published at the age of 11,’ he said. ‘Who knows? We could be seeing many more books from Sennuri in the years ahead.’
‘ The Lost Creatures’ is available for sale locally for €3 and proceeds go to Bunscoil Loreto, Gorey.