Ananta Prasad Wagle is the author of more than 40 illustrated children’s books and novels. Formerly a teacher and a journalist, Wagle began writing in the genre seeing a great need for books and literature that stimulate children’s curiosity and imagination. Currently engaged in Room to Read—a nonprofit for children’s literacy & girls’ education programmes—in this interview with the Post’s Samikshya Bhattarai, Wagle talks about why children’s literature matters and how the genre is flourishing in the country. Excerpts:

What inspired you to start writing children’s literature?

When I was in school, I read a lot of children’s magazines provided by the school. Fascinating and interactive, they were nice breathers from the monotonous course books. Before I even realised, I was reading a lot of children’s literature and eventually published poems for children in the Gorkhapatra daily. When I started writing for Kantipur’s Kopila—the children’s supplement—my personal research revealed that the genre was still only evolving in Nepal. There were not enough books or stories written for children. So, I just decided to play a part in bridging that gap by writing books myself. 

What are some of the challenges of writing for children?

Given the simple language and context, children’s literature looks very simple and easy to write. But these are also the very factors that make writing for children such a difficult task. You have to be very meticulous in making the content as concise and as comprehensible as possible. You also have to make the stories illustrative and interesting enough to grab children’s attention. Another challenge is the sensitivity towards issues—when you are communicating to children, you are also moulding their perspectives. The writer has to be aware of the environment and children’s psychology at the same time. It is a complex process and perhaps that is the reason why there are not many writers in the field.

Where does children’s literature lie in the bigger picture of Nepali literature? 

From what I have observed, the reading culture among children has noticeably increased. Even parents and teachers have started valuing the importance of reading for children, and many schools have integrated reading beyond text books in their curricula. There are many book fairs that promote children’s literature across the country and the market has also made available a wide range of literature to choose from. Even the number of publishers who publish children’s books on different themes and subjects is on the rise.  The increasing demand for children’s literature is also validated by the fact that while for other genres; the number can be generally limited to 1,000 copies per edition, for children’s literature it ranges between 2,000 to 3,000 copies. I have to say, the future of children’s literature in Nepal looks quite bright. 

What role does children’s literature play in their overall development?

Literature plays a vital role in the all-round growth of children. Literature helps widen one’s perspective and values. It helps children learn about themselves while also learning about the environment that surrounds them. Literature both educates and entertains the child at the same time. While on one hand, literature invokes curiosity, on the other hand, it also answers many queries that kids have. It engages children in not just reading but also lures them to embrace writing as well. I feel that it is important to encourage children to get more involved in literature from a very young age. 

What advice do you have for young readers and their parents?

Parents should generously spend on as many books as possible to encourage their children to read more. Buying books is investing in your child’s growth process. Books help children think and feel independently. Books stimulate children’s imagination as well as curiosity. Buy them all sorts of books—ranging from illustrated short stories and novels to biographies of people that your children can look up to growing up. Books also help children cope with life’s highs and lows. Also, I’d recommend parent to tap into as many book fairs as often as possible—it’s a great way to bond over books during a family outing.