Sometimes fiction becomes fact. Authors say 'What if?' and readers say 'Why not?'

As part of the 'Hijabi Girl' launch, illustrator Serena Geddes did 'scribbles' of our character of the therapy reading rat. Students in the audience were fascinated with her process.

A book launch is a bit like a first birthday party for a book project. I've launched the books of other people. I've attended launches as a reader because I was curious about the background behind a particular story or I was keen on the writing of that author.( Or they were a friend!)

But attending a book launch with your co-writer and illustrator such as our recent 'Hijabi Girl' launch at Craigieburn Library was a different kind of shared experience. It's almost as if we had several parents of this book baby of ideas. Co-author Ozge Alkan who is a qualified children's librarian, and who wears a hijab, checked that our cultural references were accurate and respectful, but fun.

And the fictional story we had created was becoming fact. Now there are Aussie Rules footy fan club coloured hijabs. And girls' teams with some players wearing hijabs. Libraries do have therapy pets who encourage children to read aloud. But usually reading dogs, not rats like our character.

Hume Council is a very multi cultural area with 160 languages spoken, according to the Mayor who launched our 'Hijabi Girl'. And I'd had to learn new cultures in order to write a fun book which combined Aussie Rules football for girls, Islamic food and dress culture , friendship, being the new kid, and even soccer.

Plus Rattus Rattus the Reading Rat character who is permitted in the classroom , sitting in the Reading Chair ,as long as any student is reading to the therapy pet, in any languages. There are real pet reading ambassadors like Lachlan, the Reading Dog from Hurstbridge Library. And creations of fiction, like our Rattus Rattus the Reading Rat, who may become fact as schools and libraries adopt reading therapy pets.

So a book launch can launch diverse ideas which become fact. And maybe a few more libraries and schools will adopt therapy pets as 'listeners' for children's reading aloud in any language?

posted by Hazel Edwards on May, 22