Kevi Z Kevichüsa during the launching of her book titled ‘Nino’s Secret Garden’ on June 15. (Photo Courtesy: Instagram)
Easterine Kire
A delightful children’s book has just been released this week. Titled ‘Nino’s Secret Garden it is written and illustrated by Kevi Z Kevichüsa. Along with her husband, Visasier Kevichüsa, Kevi pastors Kingdom Culture Church in Dimapur. Art is a big part of her life and she brings it into her ministry among young people who are learning to use their artistic skills to bring glory to God.
Nino’s Secret Garden is a book that has raised the bar for children’s books in Nagaland and beyond. Here is a beautiful book that is aesthetically illustrated, and brings together two elements that make storytelling succeed – simplicity and profundity. The parables of Jesus had these two in successful combination. It is not enough to have a story to tell. We all have a story or stories in us. But does that story carry profundity? And can you tell it in so simple a manner that a child can comprehend it, and an adult be touched by it, in addition? Raising the bar does these things.
Importantly, it connects the present literary culture to the great tradition of literature in which it is rooted. In Nino’s Secret Garden, the connection is made early on with CS Lewis, the beloved author of the Narnia books, whose symbols and images are well known in the world of literary Christianity. The lionAslan, is the Lion of Judah, the Christ who died to save mankind, including the ones who betrayed him. Kevi nativises the lion by giving him the Tenyidie name of Losha. The effect of nativisation cannot be overlooked. It brings truths closer to us; the story of redemption is no longer a long-ago story happening in the Middle East. We can appropriate it too when it comes wearing a Naga name.
One of my favourite illustrations in the book, out of the many favourites, is the shy tiger wearing a lohe, representing what Kevi calls, ‘shape-shifters’ in Naga culture. The tiger in the lohe manages to look sheepish and even happy, certainly not terrifying, which is another big pointer for children’s books. Sensitive writers know how to diffuse the fear element from images traditionally seen as fearful. The tiger represents the idea of shape-shifting in the book where a sweet and innocent lamb, (who is easily identifiable as the lamb of God) transforms into the mighty Lion of Judah.
The secret garden is the garden of our hearts, and it is also reminiscent of the garden in Song of Songs where the divine lover invites his beloved to come and partake of the blessings of his love.
Raising the bar is not just about reconnecting with an existing tradition, like the CS Lewis tradition here, but it is about building on it and adding to it. You bring something to the table as well. If you did not bring something to the table, it would just be plagiarism. Simple as that. The construction of this book takes these points into account.
In NSG, the author brings her Naga culture to bear upon the beloved traditions of children’s literature as we know it.Taking a well-known tradition further, by melding it with your own traditions of contextual literary culture and art – these arethe unexpected ways by which the bar is raised.
Nino’s Secret Garden is available at ilandlo.com, and through private sellers and will soon be in bookshops in Kohima and Dimapur.
Are you writing a children’s book? Are you writing a book about your life? Please don’t just go out and print thousands of copies and force government offices as well as people you know to buy your product. Take your time. Put your manuscript through editing – you will never regret that first step. Very good editors are available for a modest fee. Very high quality Naga designers are available to create beautiful book covers for you. The written word is unforgiving; the printed word even more. Give your work the gift of professional editing.
Finally, don’t be satisfied with the ordinary and the mediocre, but go for beauty big-time, because beauty and excellence are one and the same, and beauty glorifies God- and that is truly raising the bar.
