Reading into things for kids
Setting out to attract the sort of reluctant reader he used to be, author and youth counsellor Tim Tipene happened upon a neat idea: a book that takes over and effectively reads itself!
In The Book that Wouldn’t Read — and the Ma¯ori edition Te Pukapuka ka Kore e Pa¯nuihia — a boy who doesn’t like reading just has to investigate when he finds that book on the shelf. Sentences move around the page, words change colour and disappear, and crazy fonts and characters get him jumping around, even burping (despite being hushed by teacher and classmates). We asked Tipene some questions:
Tell us a little about your latest children’s picture book, The Book that Wouldn’t Read | Te Pukapuka ka Kore e Pa¯ nuihia. “It is a fun story about a reluctant reader who comes across a reluctant book in the school library. The book takes on a life of its own with sentences moving up and down, words changing colour and disappearing, and strange fonts and characters that get the reader jumping around, even burping. The boy’s appeals to the teacher and friends get hushed because ‘it’s reading time,’ and before he knows it, he’s finished the book. ‘What should I read next?’ he wonders.”
You mentioned that you faced challenges with reading during your school years. Could you share what factors contributed to your eventual enjoyment and appreciation for reading and books? “From an early age I was in special classes for reading as I had so much difficulty in learning. I was a reluctant reader, however I did have a fascination with books. I liked the feel and smell of them. It was through writing as a child that I eventually discovered the magic of words. It was a very gradual process for me though.”
Which book that you read during your childhood or teenage years left a significant impact on you? Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak when I was a child. The Cay by Theodore Taylor was the first chapter book that I read, and that was in Year 8/form 2. These two books were pretty significant for me. Other than that it was comics.”
What does it mean to you to see your books now being translated into te reo? “It has been a privilege to have most of my picture books translated into te reo Ma¯ori on their release. An excellent translator is essential and in this case I had the expertise of Kanapu Rangitauira, who did a terrific job. I was also lucky to have Nicoletta Benella illustrate.”
You’ve written more than 18 children’s books, which must require a lot of dedication. What is your routine or process when writing a book? “I allow for an idea to develop in my head, let it mature and grow. In this process I will take notes, possibly even write certain parts. Then when I have the time to focus on that particular story I will start to put it down. I do a lot of re-reading and editing as I go. Also I find that it works to take breaks, come back to the story refreshed and start over.”