Big imagination pays off
FOURWAYS – 10-year-old author defies the odds by writing and publishing his first book, which was recently launched at Skoobs Theatre of Books in Montecasino.
Daniel Nyamgero, a 10-year-old boy, recently launched his book Spy Andy and Diaper Baby at the Scoobs theatre of Books in Montecasino, Fourways.
The St Davids Marist learner became one of many published young authors under the brand of Bala Books. The book is about Spy Andy and his brother, Diaper Baby who have embarked on two different missions that involve the camouflage and secrecy of espionage. The big question is: Will the two missions unite the boys?
Bala Books was launched back in 2012 to help improve the quality of education among African children through learning that leads to opportunities inside and outside the classroom. As the publishers of child-authored books, Bala Books’ mandate is to develop child-authors and publish books written by the children themselves – in a language of their choosing – who then earn royalties from the sale of the books.
The founder and head honcho of Bala Books, Glad Kaiser, believes that having a great storytelling mandate within African schools is an issue of great importance. As such, Kaiser set forth tackling this problem by bringing about professional book-writing programmes inside and outside the classrooms. To date, the ‘Glad Kaiser Method’ continues to give children a voice by providing literary solutions that school child-authors in the innovative processes of storytelling and authoring an anthology of children’s books and thereby furthering the progress of reading and writing among children.
Kaiser also revealed that more book launches will take place throughout the year. “Every month we’ll publish and launch at least two or three child authors, we’ve got a growing catalogue of child authors.”
Franklin Nyamgero, Daniel’s father, described his son as a bookworm and a creative child. “He is always looking for stories in poems and books. I hope he can continue doing what he loves which is writing and telling stories,” he said.
While some may find it hard to believe that a 10-year-old could write a book, Daniel said, “I began writing when I was in Grade 2. However, it is not how young one is that matters, but how big one’s imagination is. That is what books and movies do for me.
“When I was nine years old, in Grade 3, my mum saw a poster at my school about Bala Books. They were having a book-writing programme for children between seven and 18 years of age. I signed up for the six-week course and they helped me write my current book, Spy Andy and Diaper Baby.
“I’m excited about Bala Books launching my book at Skoobs theatre bookstore and, in the future, I can see myself writing over one thousand books.”
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