A captivating children’s book, ‘Zavian and the Arabian Leopard Cub,’ authored by Jane Jaffer MBE, is making waves.
The 48-page tale, enriched with colourful illustrations by Nermeen Kazoun, unfolds in the Dhofar Governorate, introducing readers to the wonders of Oman’s wild life and national parks.
The narrative follows Zavian, a three-year-old boy, his sister Sariya, and cousin Raifi as they embark on an adventure in Salalah.
Amidst the breath-taking landscapes, the trio encounters endangered animals like an Arabian Leopard cub, a hyena, an ibex, an eagle, an Oryx, and a camel. The plot thickens as they join forces to locate the missing mother leopard, enlisting the help of a Civil Defence Air Ambulance Team in a heart-warming rescue.
Jane Jaffer, a prominent British author based in Muscat, delves into the creative process behind the book, emphasising the challenge of crafting an engaging story with a limited vocabulary for emerging readers.
Inspired by her grandson Zavian, she weaves a narrative that not only entertains but also educates about critically endangered animals.
The book extends beyond its narrative with thought-provoking questions for readers and a wealth of information about the featured animals. Jane’s commitment to promoting reading led her to establish the Dar Al Atta’a ‘Let’s Read Programme’ in 2007, fostering a love for reading among children.
Nermeen Kazoun, the talented illustrator, reflects on the joyous experience of bringing animals to life, emphasising the importance of inspiring curiosity and appreciation for wildlife and culture among young readers.
Maythaa Al Mandhari, responsible for translating the book into Arabic, expresses her delight in the special experience and the motivation to learn more about Oman’s unique animals. She emphasizes the book’s significance in imparting crucial information to both children and adults.
Andrew Spalton, who together with Hadi Al Hikmani, wrote the fabulous book, ‘The Arabian Leopards of Oman’, spoke to Jane about his encounters with these amazing endangered animals. This in fact inspired Jane to write the children’s book about leopards.
“It was challenging and interesting to find out all the factual information about the various animals featured in the book,” says Jane.
“I enjoyed the creative process of starting with an idea and seeing it through to fruition and seeing a book come to life. As the book is for emerging readers, I had to work on creating an exciting story with a limited and repetitive vocabulary,” she explains.
‘Let’s Read’ holds an annual Children’s Writing Competition and, for the past ten years, the ‘Let’s Read Maktabati’ mobile library has been travelling across Oman visiting schools, festivals, and fairs to give children fun reading experiences and access to good books in both the Arabic and English language.
The Let’s Read Charity Bookshop was first launched in Qurum in 2014 and has been based in Oman Avenues Mall since 2019.
A recognised writer, Jane has published works of poetry; ‘Women on the Edge’, romantic fiction; ‘Scent of a Rose’, and historical fiction; ‘Love in the Time of Zanzibar’.
Her other publications include ghost-written memoirs for prominent individuals, three other children’s books, and five collections of children’s stories for the ‘Let’s Read Programme.’
Jane said her grandchildren were the inspiration for three of her children’s books; Sariya and the Turtles, ‘Raifi’s Amazing Dinosaur Adventure’, and ‘Zavian and the Arabian Leopard Cub’.
One of the major challenges she faced was finding an illustrator who shared her vision. It was here that Nermeen did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life, creating the Omani landscape and animal pictures.
Jane’s advice to aspiring writers would be to research the subject and use all your senses when describing the setting.
“Create lovable relatable characters and antagonistic features to add some suspense and excitement to the story. Children love quirky characters and happy endings,” she adds.
‘Zavian and the Arabian Leopard Cub’ was launched in the ‘Let’s Read’ Children’s Library Bus, offering signed hardback copies for RO 5 and paperback versions for RO 4 at the Let’s Read Bookshop.
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