Ameera Osmanagic; Children’s Book Author & Journalist

Words by Imthishal

While most kids grew up flipping through channels and settling for Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, Amy had her TV fixed to Al Jazeera. Seated beside her father, comprehending the complexities of the real world. She quickly grasped her singular purpose; to create change, whether it be petitie or profound.

It wasn’t soon after her youthful epiphany, did she embark on her journalistic journey in 2019, initially joining Addu Live and subsequently transitioning to the role of assistant editor at the Times of Addu. Following this, she made the decision to pursue her higher education in Malaysia, focusing on communications with a minor in organizational leadership. However, little did she know come 2020 or rather the era of COVID, she’d find herself inspired to write a children’s book.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t until August of last year that she finally brought her book to fruition. Reflecting on the process, she admits plainly “I had no idea how to publish a book. When I wrote the book I was very naive, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I reached out to several publishing houses, but I didn’t really get a favorable response. I knew I would get it done though, because the book was already written and the illustrations were done as well, I just needed to find a way to legitimize and publish it. I ended up self-publishing first through amazon KDP, and then republishing the book through the National Bureau of Classification in the Maldives. “

While many of us grew up reading Maakumbe and Foolhudhigu Handi, the newer generations are gifted with books such as “Rosy the Raindrop’s Adventure; The Water Cycle ”. While there is completely nothing amiss with a relaxed perusal, Amy brings forth an entirely distinct approach and perspective regarding children’s literature and its obvious objectives. She takes into consideration numerous influencing factors in crafting an educational children’s book. Rosy the Raindrop’s Adventure is based on a deconstruction of the biogeochemical cycle in the most simplest yet humorous form, emphasizing the significance of friendship, offering a lending hand, and understanding that asking for help is okay, regardless of one’s strength.

 Amy elaborates, “The whole idea is that children don’t feel like they are actively learning. The information they retain from the story is subconscious. They remember the story line, but the storyline is the knowledge they gain. It teaches them the concept, and maybe when they go to school later on they can relate. That’s what I want children to get from this book, not to teach it like it’s a textbook”.

Amy collaborated closely with Mariyam Manhal Ajeeb, a local illustrator, after discovering her work on social media. Immediately drawn to Mariyam’s illustrations, Amy knew she was the perfect fit. She adds, “I reached out to her on Instagram, and she said yes. No time was wasted.” When asked what it was about Mariyam’s work that drew her attention, Amy emphasized; “There was this softness”. The gentle qualities to Mariyam’s gift, comes with a form of precision and endearing manner that seems to be just ideal for Rosy.

Furthermore when it comes to the topic of language and its importance, Amy seems to be a keen advocate. While creating the Dhivehi version of the book, Amy recognized a significant concern for parents: many children today struggle to comprehend Dhivehi vocabulary. Therefore, to address this issue, a unique feature was incorporated into the Dhivehi version. Keywords that might be unfamiliar or challenging for children were highlighted and translated into their corresponding English equivalents. This adjustment acknowledges the reality that children in this day and time often exhibit greater fluency in English. Nevertheless, small adjustments like this aid children in rediscovering their mother tongue, learning in the process of joining Rosy in her unique adventures.

Through school visits and book donations, Amy is definitely making waves. She has donated books to primary schools such as Feydhoo School and Sharaffuddin School, both of which were ironically her old primary schools. Experiencing this full-circle moment, it was important for her to personally attend these donations, spreading the joy of reading one child at a time.

The impact of Rosy the Raindrop’s Adventure is substantial, as evidenced on Kiyaalama’s Instagram page where parents have contacted Amy with their feedback, illustrating the positive difference it has created;

“(She) woke up early morning and read it before school. Since then she’s been asking me to buy her the second book of Rosy the Raindrop’s Adventure, because the last page says a new book is coming soon ”

“She has figured out what a raindrop is in real life & every time she showers, without fail she says ‘beebop’ (raindrop in her words). This is all because of your book, This is my experience so can you imagine all the ‘little’ thing all the other mums are experiencing because of you too ”

With several additional books in development, and one set to be released in the next few months, Kiyalaamaa appears poised to become a staple in every Maldivian home.