How Children's Writers Find Ideas
Niki Daly’s Inspiration for Picture Book: Pretty Salma
May 25, 2008
South African Writer and Illustrator, Niki Daly lives in a part of Cape Town that has become home to many refugees from Africa. The changing suburb, which has become more vibrant and cosmopolitan, is reflected in both the illustrations and story lines of his picture books.
His Peace Is Disturbed
It was his interaction with a refugee child that led directly to the idea for Pretty Salma. Daly lives in a Victorian semi-detached house, one of a row that runs along the railway line. Every afternoon at the same time someone rang his doorbell, but when he answered it there was no one there. He decided to wait by the door and catch the culprit.
He Meets the Real Salma
The next day when the doorbell rang he was surprised to find a little girl on her way home from school. Instead of chasing her away or giving her a piece of his mind, he talked to her instead. He found that her name was Salma, and that she was a refugee child. And the reason why he couldn’t see her when he opened his door was that she took a short cut up the side of his neighbour’s house and along the deserted railway line.
Daly Contacted her Mother
Daly was concerned for her safety so he contacted her mother, and together they worked out a less dangerous route for Salma to walk. He also volunteered his home as a safe house – where Salma could come if she ever felt unsafe. He thought the doorbell ringing would stop.
She Continues to Ring his Bell
However, every day Salma still rang his doorbell.
‘Salma, are you feeling unsafe?’ Daly would say.
‘No, I’m just thirsty.’
So she would come inside for a drink of water. Then she saw his shelves of children’s books, and asked to borrow some. She borrowed and borrowed, and never brought any back.
‘I’ve started my own library,’ she told Daly one day. ‘And when the people don’t bring them back I’m fining them.’ Then she added, ‘I’ll share the fine with you.’
The Story Develops in Daly’s Head
As Daly mulled over her story, of the little girl walking home, seemingly unaware of the dangers of choosing an isolated route, or of chatting to strangers, he was reminded of two traditional stories, Red Riding Hood, and a tale called The Mbulumukhaza, told by the Tsonga people who live in the far North of South Africa, in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. He decided to write a story that would warn children of the dangers of wandering into dangerous areas and talking to strangers.
Pretty Salma is sent to market by her granny to buy food, but on the way she wanders into the wild part of town and meets the evil Mr Dog, who tricks her out of her pretty clothes, puts them on and goes off to find grandma. But Salma is resourceful. She knows where to go for help. She finds her grandfather, telling stories in the market place, and together they defeat Mr Dog and rescue Grandma.
Click on these links to read how Margaret Mahy found inspiration for her picture book The Great White Man-Eating Shark, and where to find fresh ideas for children’s books.
 |
