DC’s young reporters
Syed Peeran calls being a reporter an enriching experience
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-11-19 23:05 GMT
Last weekend, Deccan Chronicle had the most unusual group of reporters and not one of them was older than 12. They interviewed authors at the Peek-A-Book children’s literature festival held at Shilpakala Vedika. Here’s what the little kids reported.
Katie Bagli’s love affair with nature
Vajra Roshni A., an eleven-year-old student of Delhi Public School interviewed author Katie Bagli, an avid nature lover who writes for children. In her book Odyssey in the Oceans, Katie takes you on a voyage into the dramatic life in the oceans. A. Vajra found it fun to interview Katie and to know more about the author. Excerpts:
Q What is the book Odyssey in the Oceans about?
It is about the creatures under the sea. It talks about the speciality of these creatures, the world underwater etc.
Q What is the best part of the story?
The best part of the story is The Beautiful Beast.
Q What is so special about The Beautiful Beast?
It is about a fish that goes fishing (catching other fish). Its body structure is like a fishing rod and the tip of the fishing rod glows. It attracts the other fish. It is actually not very pretty to look at, but according to the creatures in the sea, it is very beautiful.
Q Why do you write books?
I normally write books on nature. I am a nature and animal lover.
Q What made you love nature?
I was born in a place where there was no greenery. I used to get excited on even hearing a sparrow chirp. I later moved to a place where there was lot of greenery. This made me love nature.
Q Have you done anything for nature?
Yes, I did plant trees. I also take care of public trees and rescue animals. There was a mango tree near my house. The tree was being trimmed and the branches were kept below. When I went for my morning walk I saw a baby squirrel stuck in the branches. I took it home and took care of it and freed it once it was old enough to live on its own.
Q Do you like narrating stories to kids?
I love narrating stories to children. I love to interact with them and teach them to love nature.
Travel into the great oceans
A. Charisma, an eight-year-old student of Delhi Public School spoke to Katie about her book Odyssey in the Oceans. Charisma enjoyed being at the festival and was excited about the chance to be a reporter. Here’s what she found out.
“This is about a book called Odyssey in the Oceans written and illustrated by Katie Bagli. It has 18 stories about sea creatures. “Katie wrote this story because she likes sea creatures. The author lives in Mumbai and she also has a pet.”
- Katie Bagli
Meet an author and illustrator
Maysa Ruman, a student of St Georges Grammer School, pens down the experience of meeting author and illustrator Zainab Tambawalla and Katie Bagli. Here’s what the 9-year-old, who enjoyed being a reporter, found out.
“Zainab Tambawalla, who is from Mumbai, is an illustrator of books and she draws pictures for stories written by authors. At Peek-A-Book, she taught children how to draw a cartoon strip and also showed many ways to draw an elephant. Zainab also drew portraits of some of us while we were interviewing the authors.
Author Katie Bagli’s book Odyssey in the Ocean tells stories about creatures like the blue whale and other unusual sea creatures like a fish that has a light on its head! I found the stories in the book very colourful and inspiring.”
- Zainab Tambawalla
‘Social message in books will sound preachy’
Syed Peeraan Quadri, 12, a student from the Delhi School of Excellence got a chance to interview Swati Sengupta. Her book Guns On My Red Earth revolves around a boy who becomes a Maoist due to poverty. Syed Peeran calls being a reporter an enriching experience. Excerpts:
Q Where did you get the idea of writing your book?
As part of journalism, I found that the police had children working in wars for spying just because they are easy to influence and less suspected.
Q When do you like to write a story?
When there is peace of mind.
Q Did you intend to pass on a social message?
I wanted to create a strong sense of fascination among the readers. If I try to send a social message it would seem preachy.
- Swati Sengupta
‘Lovely to see kids interested in books’
Ujwal Tripathi, a 10 year old student of Glendale Academy got a chance to interview Shabnam Minwalla. Shabnam is the author of the Strange Haunting of Model High School, a funny school story. Excerpts:
Q How did you get the idea of writing this book?
I got this idea when I thought of my school days.
Q What are the names of your children?
Aalya, Nisha and Nina.
Q Do you like Hyderabad?
Lovely city. I love buying bangles and eating biryani.
Q How do you feel about Peek-A-Book?
Lovely to see so many children interested in books.
Q Your favourite book
It is Pride and Prejudice.
- Shabnam Minwalla
‘Children should read for fun’
Nikhil Rele, a 9-year-old student from Sreenidhi International School interviewed author Anushka Ravishankar, who has written more than 30 books so far. Here’s what Nikhil found out about the author...
“Anushka Ravishankar has a passion for reading and likes to create new stories for children. Her favourite book is Today is my Day. Anushka also believes that children should have fun reading books, so her books are fun to read and not only for knowledge.”
- Anushka Ravishankar
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