Ur mind is to open a book

Why they like to write the stories ften comes from their families or bring about change for the better

Isabella Beighton, 9

Diary of a Wimpy Kid because it’s so funny.

The Marge in Charge series by Isla Fisher because it’s so adventurous and fun.

Hermione Granger from Harry Potter because she’s a fierce girl. as y w The er as rs later hy became a 6-yearor.

HIVbehind

I Am s to help nd the virus.

My Coily Crowny Hair

Zulaikha Patel

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The Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer because it reminds me of when I was younger and believed in fairytales.

Zulaikha Patel became well known when she protested against her school’s hair policy. In this story, Lisakhanya is inspired her by grandmother and her mother to embrace her hair and play around with different hairstyles.

Order these books and more from Ethnikids on www.ethnikids.africa

Qhama Wande Adonis, 11

Ruby Redfort Take Your Last Breath by Lauren Child.

Roald Dahl invented more than

500 character names and new words such as

“Oompa-Loompas” and “scrumdiddlyumptious” for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Why did you decide to write a children’s book?

Shudufhadzo Musida: To destigmatise mental health, we need to start from the ground up, which is with children. I believe if we familiarise children with mental health education, it’ll be useful. For instance, we’re seeing children as young as seven dying by suicide so talking about bullying, something that’s very personal to me, felt like the right story to tell. But it’s not just a story of bullying, it’s a story of hope, love and overcoming.

What was the hardest part of writing the book?

SM: There wasn’t really anything hard about it. It was therapeutic more than anything else because, as someone who’s been bullied, it’s something you carry with you. I was bullied through my formative years so my personality and how I engaged with people is informed by how I was bullied. But I’ve told the story as a story of victory because now I’m Miss South Africa.

What is your favourite thing about the book?

SM: Speaking about my grandmother and great-grandmother. My greatgrandmother was my favourite person in the entire world. To be able to write this book as homage to them and the magic they instilled in me was beautiful.

What are you hoping readers take from this book?

SM: That they are not victims and that bullying has nothing to do with them and it is not a reflection of their worth. I was able to speak out about being bullied and I’m hoping that children being bullied are able to find that strength and know that they’re not alone.

Shudu Finds Her Magic sells for R95. For each copy sold, one will be donated to the SA Depression and Anxiety Group to help children who are victims of bullying.

Maurice Sendak who wrote Where The Wild Things Are originally wanted the book to be called Where The Wild Horses Are, but he couldn’t draw horses. www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/36824907 www.educationworld.com/blog/world-book-day-march-1st2018-fun-facts-about-books-share-kidsina www.funkidslive.com/learn/top-10-facts/top-10-facts-about-books/ interestingliterature.com/2015/04/25-great-facts-about-childrens-books/ www.iol.co.za/education/wimpy-partners-with-ethnikids-to-launch-multilingual-book-collection-fb17bffa4d71-4bf7-b558-e63f67534843 www.news24.com/parent/Child_7-12/Fun/south-africas-youngest-authors-20170830 forreadingaddicts.co.uk/authors/five-worlds-youngest-authors/16298 www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/books-you-probably-didnt-know-were-written-by-kids https://bookdash.org/