Australian author Christopher Cheng is so friendly with kids that they often suggest how to conclude a story better. At the Bookaroo fest, he told Divya Kaushik that he still thinks like a 12-year-old
He sways his hand in the air dramatically popping his eyes out and there’s a fear in his voice as he narrates, “In a rickety old house, spooky sounds fill the air.” That fear in his voice turns into a shriek and he goes on, “Crashing and slamming; snarling and hissing; creaking and mumbling. Who … or what …is making themIJ” There is a pause and he finishes, “I’m not scared. Are youIJ” For a minute, we look blankly at Christopher Cheng. “Well that was just a sample of how I am with kids,” smiles the author, who just narrated us few lines from his Sounds Spooky.
Enjoying a balmy afternoon at the lawns of Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA), watching kids line up for sessions and interacting with authors during the Bookaroo Children’s literature Festival has been his routine for past couple of days. Chris was in India over two years back and is delighted to be meeting his young fans, “who come up with suggestions on how I could have given a better conclusion to the book. It is just so amazing to realise that they so much value the work that I do and what I write.” But more than interacting with kids, which is a part of his job and he loves that, talking to parents and making them realise how important it is to read out to kids is his prime focus.
“A lot of sharing happens over reading. We often say that children are smarter now and the big topic is how to approach them. I say they all are still the same, be it in any part of the world. And a good story is the answer. You just have to sit down and read. Parents often complain that children do not read, but you have to share a book with them initially and make them interested. For example, if you love golf and you want your children to learn playing it, you would take them along and tell them how it is played.
Similarly if you want your children to read, you too will have to read. I understand that when both parents are working it is difficult to dedicate time but we all have our priorities and why don’t we make reading with kids a priority at homesIJ Teachers in school do a good job but it is at home where a child learns and he idolises his parents, so there should be some reading time over the dinner table or anything like that to let the kids know how interesting is the world of stories. If a child comes up and asks for another series of the book that means parents are successful,” he says. Chris feels that modern authors are doing great work in children literature and create interesting characters. But the reason why most children still talk about characters like Cindrella, Snow White and Rapunzel is because they are told about these characters by their parents.
“As I said parents do not read enough since they know of these characters and their stories they only tell about them to kids. There is a lack of exposure to good, modern literature that’s available in the market today. How many parents go to the bookstores and look out for new books for childrenIJ” he adds with a lot of drama in his voice. That comes naturally to him considering he has been narrating his stories, introducing his illustration books to children since long now.
“I love teaching and ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a teacher. So I spend time with children and tell stories. If they laugh when I want them to laugh and are scared when I want them to get scared while I am telling a story that means my writing will work,” adds the Australian author who says he gets his stories from his observations. He carries a notebook and a pen wherever he travels. His wife is a teacher and her experiences too help him develop his stories. Chris’ life has included working in zoos, teaching, dwelling in a science laboratory and travelling. All of these have been influential in crafting his work. “I am a kid who stopped growing after 12. I think like a 12-year-old and feel if I like my work the kids will like it too,” he says.
The author has created picture books, historical fiction, narrative non fiction and non fiction works that are all based on facts. Using examples from his wide range of work that includes: riots against the Chinese miners and also the White Australia Policy Immigration Restriction Act (historical fiction); The life Of A Python (narrative non-fiction picture book), and the amazing natural history of animals, Chris has transformed facts into inspiring works that are unforgettable reads. “But I don’t think that a good story should come with a moral lesson. Sometimes you end up telling what is right and wrong through a story, but that need not be the agenda always,” he says.
He list The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a picture book by Eric Carle, and The lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, a high fantasy novel by CS lewis as must-reads for children. The latter is his all-time favourite.Expect a cook book soon from Chris as he enjoys cooking apart from writing. A book with Indian characters is also in pipeline. “I cannot say when it will be out but I have been working on it, a book with Indian children as characters,” he signs off.