Entertaining kids is child’s play to fun-loving author

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A top children’s author will be one of the main attractions when Killearn stages its first book festival this weekend.

Artist and writer Chae Strathie has grown a dedicated following through his wacky stories and fun–filled talks for children and will be at the village hall on Sunday, September 2 to discuss one of his most recent works ‘Gorilla Loves Vanilla’.

The fun book follows a young ice cream parlour owner Sam, who encounters a unique array of customers with even stranger requests for flavours of ice cream.

Chae (pictured right) will be delivering a talk from 11am.

He said: “The main thing is that it’s about entertainment.

“It’s not just about the books, it’s about giving excitement and joy to the children and connecting those feelings with the books themselves.

“The shows have a mixture of songs about the book. I tend to bring out the guitar and play (badly), and there’s generally a puppet and all sorts of stuff. Everything’s interactive.

“After the talks I sometimes get the children to make their own drawings based on their ideas of how the story will look.”

Chae added: “One of the things about being an author is that you’re generally locked away in some cupboard for months at a time and you don’t get to see the fruits of your labour.

“So to get to see the reaction from children and get the work in front of an audience is great. They love it and it doesn’t seem to matter where they’re from.”

Chae’s work focuses mostly on picture books for ages three– seven but he has also recently launched a new series of non– fiction books in conjunction with the British Museum.

These historical books are a way to engage slightly older children with history, but still feature his trademark style of giving the reader something to laugh at while learning at the same time.

Chae’s passion for his work comes back in the feedback he receives from parents and children.

He said: “Most events I do I’ll get parents saying they loved it. I had a video from a mum recently telling me she reads to her son every night and he just loves it.

“A lot of people have a preconception that it’ll be someone just standing there reading from their book and think it’ll be a bit dry.

“But parents are pleasantly surprised and if their kids are obviously enjoying it and taking part it means a lot to the parents. Getting that feedback is great.

“Children’s picture books for the young age group aren’t regarded the same way as adult literature but an adult’s love of reading was sparked by what they read when younger.

“Picture books are the key that opens the door to a lifetime of reading.”

Chae will be at the Killearn Children’s Book Festival from 11am to noon in the village hall on Sunday.