“I am not a fan of gadgets. Though they have increased our scope of understanding and has made our lives more comfortable, they have also killed the imagination in children. The element of surprise about learning something new does not exist anymore. They seem content with their devices. I wanted to bring out the latent curiosity to learn more about the world in children,” says Penny, who has written two books of stories for children. Talking about her latest collection of stories, Okka Bokka- The Spook, Spice And Cocoa Penny says, “We grew up in a time when there were no gadgets and the TV was considered a luxury. We used our free time to create specific characters and stories using our imagination and creativity. Growing up in Bihar, we created characters based on the people who we interacted with on a daily basis, from the friendly old gardener to the strict chowkidar or the lanky vegetable vendor. This series is a collection of stories, where similar characters from my childhood play an important role. Though the people mentioned did exist, the stories are fictional. This book is meant for pre-teens and teenagers. I have used a simple narrative style. I feel that the language used in children books needs to be simple and contemporary. The ‘old once upon a time’ way of narration may not work today. My attempt has been to get the children to discover their power of imagination. I love Ruskin Bond and his style of writing.”
She adds, “The book is meant for an international audience, especially children with Indian roots. These characters have been with me all my life and were part of discussions with friends and family during visits home. It took me a quarter of a year to build on these characters and flesh out a good story.”
Penny says that working on books for children was a conscious decision. “I love children and feel that I can understand the way they think and understand things. I feel that most parents do not make an attempt to understand what the children actually want. I feel that I can speak in their language. I felt that we are ignoring what children actually want in the pursuit to see them succeed in everything from academics to sports. I like telling stories and that spurred me to write this book.”
What is next in store? Penny says, “I am working on a sequel to the Oggy series with more stories and characters. I also am working on a project for adults.”
