Storytelling with authenticity

On today’s show, we chat with an author about storytelling with authenticity, and the process of writing stories that help kids deal with fear, grow to be resilient, and giving kids a sense of belonging.

Today’s special guest has a unique journey with storytelling that covers cultures, languages, and the spaces in between. It wasn't until adulthood that she rediscovered her love for reading through stories that finally felt relevant to her experience. This shaped her approach as both a teacher and school counsellor, where she used picture books to help students feel seen and develop a sense of belonging.

Her professional work as a psychologist, alongside her experience raising three daughters, infuses her stories with themes of empowerment, resilience, and authenticity.

Her recent book, Aslan and Benny, explores a boy confronting his fear of a very cute family dog. And her upcoming release, A Lemon for Safiya, beautifully weaves Arabic text throughout a powerful story about compassion and cultural connection.

When she's not writing you can see her in the water as a qualified scuba diver!

Everybody, please give a big welcome to the creative and talented Jemima Shafei-Ongu.