By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Apparently somewhere in a galaxy far, far away, there’s another planet made of chocolate.
Sound too good to be true? Well yes, it’s actually part of an alien’s trick to lure humans from Earth in a tale by Narre Warren South children’s author Wida Tausif.
Aliens Don’t Belong On Earth is a chapter book about friendship, respect and honesty – not to mention rectifying a few mistakes, Ms Tausif says.
“I want to get the message across to children to hold onto that virtue, to be honest and respectful in life.”
Ms Tausif is a prolific writer and poet, currently working on a memoir of her life growing up as an Afghan refugee in New Zealand.
As a student, she was in a way treated like an alien. She endured schoolyard taunts such as being called a terrorist, Al Queda ringleader Osama Bin Laden and that she didn’t belong “here”.
“I didn’t have any friends for a few months, except an Afghan friend who was going through the same thing.
“I want to share that experience with everyone. We have to be more accepting in this beautiful country.
“Bullying is something we all go through, not just me or the Muslim community. It’s how people are.”
It had always been an ambition to write an “alien book”, especially since there didn’t seem to be many children’s books on that theme.
Her aliens are more intelligent than humans, but with different emotions and a unique blue colour.
“It’s not your typical alien book. There’s also quite a bit of entertainment, fun and drama.”
Aside from her writing life, Ms Tausif was also recently crowned as Miss Intelligent at a recent Miss South Asian contest in Melbourne.
Aliens Don’t Belong On Earth is available at Booktopia, Angus and Robertson Online and QBD stores.
