By Ethan Benedicto
With her excitement bubbling and after two odd years of drawbacks, the long-awaited release of a local author’s third children’s novel has finally been announced for 8 February 2025.
Wida Tausif, who received the 2024 Victorian Afghan Association Network’s Award, is keen to once more be that voice for cultural awareness among children, especially as her new novel, titled Ali Goes to School and its release is just around the corner.
“I am very, very excited, you know just holding the book in my hands, and the moment I opened it, it was like a dream come true,” she said.
“I’ve had visions and have been dreaming about this book to be out and now it’s finally done.”
Remaining true to her cause of also being an educator and a strong community advocate, Wida believes that books are one of the best platforms for children, especially in the early years of school, to learn about diversity and other cultures.
Working in this environment, from early childhood learning to kindergarten, she has always wanted to support young minds, and for her, the least that she could do when it comes to that fear was “through writing”.
“For me, it’s a way to support not only these children but their families as well because I know that with these types of stories, I can send those important messages,” she said.
“Kindergarten can be really nerve-wracking, so I want to change their mentality and to make it positive.
“The amount of feedback I hear from these kids, and how interesting it is that some would say that they’re scared or that they want to do another year of kinder is astounding.”
Helping children overcome their fears of the unknown was a driving force behind Wida’s novels, and this new piece being the third, she is no stranger to what it is that the young ones search for.
Without having to spoil her novel’s contents, the story revolves around a young boy named Ali, and throughout the pages, he eventually builds the courage to go to school and learns that not all is as intimidating as it seems.
“It’s their imaginations you know, and even after the first transition they get a bit overwhelmed seeing a lot of bigger kids around them and lots of teachers as well,” she said.
“My goal is to get that message across, to support these children and let them know that school isn’t a scary place.
“I want them to know that it’s an environment where you can learn, have fun and make friends so this novel is a really big deal for me.”
Wida’s book launch is set to take place in Oakgrove Community Centre, with excitement in the air as her students and their families are set to attend the event.
Despite the publishment and editorial delays of the first novel, Wida has also announced that the sequel, titled ‘Ali Makes a New Friend’ has undergone the initial review process and could be published sooner than expected.
In the meantime, Wida is eager to get her pages turning as the new year offers a strong start to her advocating for educating diversity among the youth.
