Grade 2 pupils do artwork for Lauren Beukes’ new book

28 July 2016 - 11:06 By Deneesha Pillay

As they step into the land of “Unbelievia” who knows what South African children will find? A scary beastie BossyPants with bushy eyebrows and wiggly fingers or The Grand Sniffing Snozzle with a gigantic big nose?Whatever they might find‚ the artwork and illustrations are entirely up to them.Grade 2 pupils at Prestwich Primary School in Cape Town took crayon to paper on Wednesday to create some of the “beasties” for award-winning South African author Lauren Beukes’ new children’s book.Best known for her books “The Shining Girls” and “Broken Monsters”‚ Beukes is two months away from publishing her latest book‚ which she says was largely inspired by her seven-year-old daughter.Undoubtedly different from what her readers have usually come to expect‚ Bostik Book of Unbelievable Beasties has allowed the former journalist to express her “cute side”.Speaking to TMG Digital at a reading and drawing session hosted by the Shine Centre at Prestwich Primary‚ Beukes said that the aim was to just let children read‚ have fun and play.“Kids’ literacy is so important to me and stories are often the ways in which we understand the world‚ who we are‚ and a way to experience other lives.“I wanted these kids to use their imaginations and bring their own experiences to the story. What is so exciting is just seeing the variety of beasties already‚” she said.JM Coetzee looking to make it a hat trick with Man Booker nominationAccording to Beukes‚ one of the more challenging aspects of writing the rhymes for the book was making sure that the “beasties” were not too scary – and that’s where her daughter came in.“I write a lot of very dark novels for adults‚ including ‘Broken Monsters’‚ but I have actually worked in kids’ TV for a long time.“I’ve worked on two different Disney shows and I’ve written a Wonder Woman comic‚ for kids set in South Africa‚ and it’s just a way for me to express my cute side and to do something that my daughter actually appreciates.“She’s seven years old and she vetted a lot of the rhymes and she was like ‘no‚ mama‚ that’s too scary‚’” Beukes said.Pravina Vassen‚ who volunteers for the Shine Literacy programme every Monday and Wednesday‚ said that it was a privilege to witness the children’s imagination and talent.“I think that this is an amazing project and it’s so nice to see these children using their imagination and it’s wonderful to see their talent. I didn’t realise they would draw so well.“These pictures are just stunning‚” Vassen said.Prestwich Primary School principal Mahdi Samodien said that he and many other educators felt that the South African education system still has a long way to go.However‚ he feels that initiatives such as the Shine Programme not only stimulate creativity but also allow children to look at things “in a different light.”“With regards to our education system‚ many of us feel that we still have far to go. Not only in terms of resources and what education is meant to provide for these children‚ but just the general morale of teachers‚ educators and the system is problematic‚” he said.“Given the space‚ there is so much that learners can do. There are learners who are not necessarily able to be academically‚ intellectually or mathematically sound‚ but are so artistic and we don’t always nurture that.“Therefore‚ opportunities like this allow them to listen‚ understand‚ and open their minds‚ this is just really so wonderful‚” he said.The project is open to children across the country and everyone between the ages of 6 and 12 is invited to let their creativity flow by entering their masterpieces into the competition.Competition entries close on August 20 and the draw will take place in September. The best “beasties” will be chosen to feature in Beukes’ book‚ which will be published and launched in October.“I feel ill just thinking about the selection process‚” she said.“Just looking in this room there is so much amazing creativity and when the kids talk about their beasties‚ and they describe what’s happening in their pictures it’s so incredible.“I have no idea how we are going to judge this. It’s going to be impossible to choose‚ I might cry‚” Beukes said.“I really want to do more children’s books‚ this was so much fun‚ I just have to convince my agent.Despite it being an awesome excuse for her to not write her novel‚ she said with a wink. – TMG Digital..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.