Lokesh - Being Different – A Children’s Story
How this book happened.
Whilst putting a presentation together for a junior school assembly about a multicultural festival which was to take place in the town where I work as a Community Development Worker, I got thinking more deeply about the message I was trying to deliver. The words and photos I looked at on the computer screen didn’t seem to do justice to the story ‘behind the story.’ I had a strong desire to write a children’s story about it, although I have no experience of writing stories! As a former registered childminder of 20 years experience, I felt I could put something together which would keep children interested, create understanding, provide thought provoking dialogue, and entertain. I decided to expand the presentation into a story in order to demonstrate how one person and one incident can turn a whole community around.
Other ideas came to me. Discrimination is not a simple subject to address – how could I explain the reality of the racial incident to younger children without frightening them, but stick to the facts and keep the attention of older children? I remembered the ‘Janet and John’ reading books of my childhood and their simple, colourful layout and came up with my own style – writing two versions on the one page, which could be read simultaneously by different ages, with visuals all readers could engage with. I tested the many drafts out on colleague’s children, parents, friends, teaching professionals, a registered childminder, other nationalities, in fact anyone I could persuade... I joined in art workshops with children at a local first School as they created paintings and drawings used to illustrate the pages. All their feedback and interest encouraged me to continue and find a way to produce this book.
My inspiration came from Khalique (the real Lokesh) and the Speak Easy group and the story couldn’t have happened without his determination to bring the community together and cross barriers to turn his bad experience into a good outcome. For my part, I hope I have left a legacy which children will enjoy and remember – being different is great!
Kris Hallett
Lokesh Being Different ©
Project supported by: Dorset Community Action
OR
