Luna’s curiosity leads the way
INSPIRED by her 4-year-old daughter’s curiosity, a Durban mom put last year’s hard lockdown to good use. She penned a kid-friendly book aimed at helping children wrap their heads around viruses.
Shareez Bagaria, born and raised in Chatsworth, spent the bulk of her professional career in corporate HR before she joined her family’s business. She then wrote her debut book, Luna Learns about Viruses.
It was launched at the Durban Book Fair at Pick n Pay in Durban North on Saturday.
“I’ve always had a desire to write a book, but didn’t have the time nor did I know where to start. Being in lockdown for the past year with a curious 4-year-old and having a lot of spare time inspired me to start writing,” said Bagaria, of Hillcrest.
“My kids (Luna, 4, and Shay, 11) were also encouraging and insisted I see it through to completion. Also, I did not need to look for new content as the virus was relevant, so naturally it made the process easier. My daughter, Luna, is as curious as a cat and, of course, many questions arose regarding viruses. With this book, I hope to educate and inform this particular age group about viruses in simple terms.”
The book is targeted at children aged 3 to 6, and it is meant to be used as both a teacher’s aid and a parental guide.
Bagaria said she had always loved books and reading, a value instilled in her by her late father, who was a school principal.
“I was inspired to write this book by my daughter in part, and in part the Covid pandemic that has engulfed the globe. Due to Covid, children have been left anxious and with feelings of uncertainty and fear. This book aims to educate children about viruses in general in simple terms.
“I have already had a few schools in the Upper Highway area purchase it for their foundation phase pupils,” she said.
“The book is written in a simple, rhyming style. It is easy to read and to remember. It is similar to Dr Seuss’s writing. And the information is conveyed in a relatable manner, with big, bold illustrations.”
The illustrations were done by Bagaria’s 14-year-old niece, Gianna Naidoo.
Gianna is a Grade 9 pupil at Westville Girls’ High. She loves spending time with animals more than people, and has a passion for art. Gianna also loves the sciences and hopes to further her studies in both fields.
◆ Luna Learns about Viruses can be purchased on www. madeinchatsworth.co.za
◆ Delivery is free in South Africa.