Today we talk about The Googly Eyed Rabbit, a book by Saleha Fazal published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author, Saleha Fazal, to get to know her better, where she found the inspiration to write her book The Googly Eyed Rabbit, as well as what prompted her to take a fluffy rabbit as a metaphorical main protagonist of her story.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to write your book?
I have always wanted to write a children’s book. A book I will enjoy to read with my own children someday. I used to enjoy reading and watching stories that have a moral lesson at the end, hence the story “The Googly Eyed Rabbit” seemed to be the perfect idea. I am a strong believer in anti bullying and empowering children and making them understand that anyone including ourselves can have differences that may appear to set us apart from others but in reality it is what everyone needs in their lives.All our differences have a purpose in life and we can use it to help others around us. Therefore, I can say this book touches on the concept of inclusion, acceptance and love. The main character Bunny is represented as a white fluffy rabbit with big googly eyes and his brother Sunny is also a white fluffy rabbit. The idea here is to see how minor physical differences can change how an individual views others and that is unfair. When Sunny ends up being in trouble, the only person who was able to help was the same Bunny he didn’t like. The moral of the story is direct and strong. It is not to bully others and accept their differences as it may be helpful to us one day.
- What made you think of the rabbit as a metaphorical subject who represents the protagonist of this story?
To be honest, the rabbit character came up spontaneously and I felt most kids, if not all kids, perceive rabbits as cute and sweet. I felt an animal character would allow the children to expand on their imagination and explore animals as characters they might and can relate to. Also, as an educator, metaphors allows the children to get a perception of the characters and of people around them in an indirect way.
- What would you like to hear from your young readers?
I would love to hear that they enjoyed reading it as much as I did for the first time. I hope they say that they have learnt how to be better individuals after reading it. I feel it is important for young readers to understand the point of view of both characters Bunny and Sunny and how they viewed each other. It will be interesting to see who the kids relate to more after reading the book. Will they sympathize with Bunny or will they see themselves in the character of Sunny? Like I mentioned earlier, the book touches in the concept of inclusion, love and accepting others however they are as they can be the heroes we needed. This is the message I would like the readers to obtain.
- How was your publishing experience?
It was a pleasant experience. My first contact with the publishers was through the press office manager Miss Ginevra was such a confidence booster as she expressed how much her kids and herself enjoyed reading the book and that was the reason they chose it to be published.The publisher Europe Books and their editors were extremely professional and pleasant to work with. The communication was smooth and they were quick to respond to all my questions and concerns in relation to the book.
- Are you planning to write more books?
Of course! Especially after the first experience being so positive and encouraging. I would love to write more books for children.My goal is to have a series consisting of different animal characters with differences and how they use their differences for good. I would love to stick with the motto of the book when writing my next children’s book “No matter who we are, we can always be somebody’s hero”.
Europe Books thanks the author Saleha Fazal once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book The Googly Eyed Rabbit. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my dear reader, I wish you to rediscover the values of love, acceptance and inclusion, looking at those values with the eyes of a child or through the eyes of your child. And remember that, no matter how adult you are, books for children have a lot to teach us all! Written in simple and clear concepts, illustrated children’s book have the ability to give us important life lessons or they put us back in touch with our forgotten child side which just needs to be awoken.
So, my dear reader, I just have to wish you to enjoy this inspirational reading!!!
Your editor!