Relevance of books in a digital world, especially in the post-Covid world which is going to lean on smart schools and digital learning is under threat. What is the future of books and more importantly, reading when most people skim through content now? Asian Voice spoke to renowned authors to know their perspective.
Zanib Mian’s books have featured on BBC’s CBeebies Bedtime Stories and The Guardian for their contribution to diversity in children’s literature. Zanib studied Molecular Cell Biology at University College London and went on to teach Science in secondary schools before she made the decision to give up the career to create change within children’s publishing. She felt that diverse characters from all minorities and backgrounds weren’t being fully represented in books for young children. She launched Sweet Apple Publishers with a clear commitment to publishing inclusive books, many of which she has authored herself. She regularly features in the Bradford Literature Festival, was commissioned to write an opera for The Mahogany Opera Group, and is also on the panel of judges for the prestigious Young Muslim Writers Awards. The Planet Omar series is her first for older readers, and is published by Hachette Children’s Group.
Speaking to Asian Voice Zanib Mian said, "Children will be fortunate enough to have books that represent everyone, seeing themselves in characters like Omar, which works wonders for self confidence and for enlightenment through learning about others. The digital world is fantastic for allowing for exciting formats and to access these stories wherever you are, but there’s nothing like holding a book and turning its pages!"
Sita Brahmachari won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize with her debut Artichoke Hearts and is one of the most interesting and important voices in children’s books today. Tender Earth was awarded an honour by the International Board of Books for Young People, and her most recent novel, Where The River Runs Gold, published to great acclaim in July 2019. Sita’s books have been shortlisted for the UKLA Book Award, nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and have been translated into many languages around the world. She was the 2015 Booktrust’s Writer in Residence and is the current Writer in Residence at Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants. Sita is also an Amnesty International ambassador.
Sita Brahmachari told Asian Voice, “During lockdown we have seen that more people have been reading than ever. So much of life has gone onto screen that perhaps the book we can hold in our hands has been a more private, relaxing and immersive portal to open in our minds and hearts. A space where we can sit with ourselves and another’s narrative in contemplation and empathy. This has been true for me. I find it no surprise that the impacts of reading on well-being have been proven. There is a collective need for narratives that heal and help us navigate this world. Books are here to stay, to love and treasure, like family and old friends we value them deeply and want to re-visit them whenever we can.”
