The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name

The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name is one of our latest Bright Light titles to hit the shelves. It’s a warm and uplifting story that celebrates individuality and shows how no-one should ever have to shrink themselves down to fit in! 

We spoke to Sandhya about publishing this title and what inspired her to write the story. Read on to hear her thoughts!

Sandhya

I was inspired to write this book from my experience with my name. I was always reluctant to correct people when they said my name, until a colleague insisted that she wanted to learn how to say my name correctly. That experience was truly liberating and empowered me to offer a correction when my name was mispronounced.

I think this story is important for young readers (and parents alike!) because it encourages them to explore the meaning and culture entwined into their names, embrace their heritage and be empowered to correct people when their names are mispronounced. 

To anyone who says a name is too hard to learn, I would say, ask the person to sound out their name and listen carefully. Once you break it up and listen to where the natural pauses are and which syllables are stressed, with a bit of practice you can learn to say any name!

When I first saw the finished book I was overjoyed! The cover design by Pooja Desai is amazing. The green, orange and peach colours work beautifully together. I love the orange thread weaving through the title, adding a hint of something to look out for inside. Michelle Pereira's lush and gorgeous illustrations enhance Zimdalamashkermishkada's story to another level. 

Watching the transformation of the orange thread intensifies the message of being able to soar high when you accept yourself. Michelle has heartwarmingly captured Zimdalamashkermishkada's emotions, as he gains confidence through the story. The finished book is beyond anything I could have ever imagined and I'm still floating on the feeling of elation.

I love all of Michelle’s gorgeous artwork. It is so hard to pick a favourite page. The puffer fish page is so funny. I love the page with the coconut trees, but most of all I love the green page. It is the most wonderful green I’ve ever seen!

You can pick up The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name by Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira online or at your local bookshop now.