Kavan Kislaya : Author of Simba Capeman
By Jules
Published On 13/10/2020
Every now and then as I go about my bookshop tours, I encounter something extremely magical. This was the case during my tour at Educate Yourself Bookshop. Among the books they stocked was a children’s book called Simba Capeman. The reason I was intrigued by this book is because its author, Kavan Kislayan, is eight years old! Yes, you read that right, Kavan is a published author at his tender age.
I was so amazed by this fact that, naturally, I had to find a way of meeting and talking to Kavan. Like many other children his age, Kavan was a delight to talk to, energetic and very confident in his writing abilities. The pride he had over his published book made me so happy to see! In his free time, Kavan loves to draw, watch superhero movies and read books, his favorite author being Roald Dahl. His mother would read him bedtime stories and from this, a strong passion for reading, and later writing, developed.
Simba Capeman follows the adventures of a superhero who is as bold as a lion and can fly like a bird. He takes it upon himself to fight the villains invading planet Earth in search of power and dominance over Earth’s inhabitants. When I asked Kavan about the inspiration behind this book, he simply said he loves superheros so much and wanted to create one of his own, with qualities he wished to see on other superheros. He also ensured that the book portrayed something that would appeal to him as a reader and to achieve this, he made sure that bright images, games and activities were included throughout the book so that kids, his target audience, do not get bored reading.
Mr Krishna Kislay, Kavan’s dad, could not be prouder of his son. It is evident to see the love and support he gives Kavan, even through their interaction. Mr Krishna emphasized that as long as Kavan was passionate about writing, then he would continue to support him as much as he can. He mentions that it has been difficult to get bookshops to stock his son’s books but slowly, and with much persuasion, more bookshops are willing to stock copies of Simba Capeman. Copies are currently available at Educate Yourself Bookshop, Rafu Books and Yaya Centre Bookshop. Back in India, the book is stocked in 42 branches of the Crossword Bookstore.
As a student, Kavan confirms that it has not been difficult to balance school work and his writing, indicating that his father always helps him plan out his time accordingly. I was happy to hear that ever since his book was published, more of his friends and classmates have challenged themselves to read more and some even want to write books. This fills my heart with joy because the reading culture is being cultivated into these children at such a young age and this is a win.
I took time to go through the book and honestly, I am quite impressed by the level of imagination and creativity that is portrayed in the story. A second book will be coming out soon and you can be sure that I will be first in line to get it. It is important to nurture, encourage and support such young talent. You can find out more about Simba Capeman and how you can get a copy of it through the official website.
Grab yourself a copy and enjoy!
