Zai Whitaker’s new book for children introduces them to tiny, amazing creatures, from scorpions to centipedes and frogs in the form of fun, informative poems
ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY/Bhargavi Rudraraju, SPEAKING TIGER BOOKS
MID-DAY: Why did you decide to write Dancing Frogs and Other Creatures in Verse?
ZAI WHITAKER: SINCE the time writing became a serious pursuit, my target audience has been children, and the focus, wildlife and conservation. As for verse, I turned to it — and especially light verse — as entertainment for my then terminally ill sister; we laughed and discussed rhymes and reasons together, ironic times of merriment during her terrible illness. I continued writing silly-billy poems after her death, and I think she would have liked that.
MD: While planning the chapters, which were some of the surprise packages that made it to the final list? And why?
ZW: I was expecting Funny Bones to be rejected by the editors because of its slightly gruesome message but stalwart editor Sudeshna Shome Ghosh didn’t bat an eye, for which I’m very grateful. And I surprised myself by writing about the debris orb spider (below, left), because its untidy web had never impressed me.
MD: What lessons and curious facts did you stumble upon while researching for this book?
ZW: I learned to admire the Michael Jackson moves of the dancing frogs (above), the awesome size of Vasuki indicus; the role of beetles in pollination, and the funny, crazy names of some animals.
Zai Whitaker
MD: If you had to pick a species featured in this book that resembles you the closest, which would it be and why?
ZW: I would like to say bumble bee, but since I’m neither industrious nor persevering, I have to say the Boastful Centipede (above), because I often shoot my mouth without checking my facts. Definitely something to work on!
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