The Children's Table
Event description
We’d love to see more Muslim characters in Australian children’s books, but do those stories always need to have Islamic lessons? Authors Melati Lum, Razeena Omar Gutta and Inda Ahmad Zahri discuss the journey of writing fun, adventurous and meaningful picture books and middle grade novels with diversity and representation.
ABOUT THE PANELLISTS
Inda Ahmad Zahri
Inda Ahmad Zahri writes and illustrates stories that celebrate culture and nature and are often imbued with her fervent wish for a kinder world. Originally from Malaysia, she now splits her time between her garden home in Brisbane, Australia and a sandy spot in the Middle East.
She counts books, languages, Malaysian rice dishes and the ocean as some of her greatest loves, apart from her family, of course – even though they often call her name very loudly just as she’s about to write or sketch something important!
Inda’s debut book ‘Salih’ was a Notable book in the 2022 CBCA Picture Book of the Year awards. In 2021, she won the ASA/CA Mentorship award to develop a middle grade novel.
Inda also works as a surgical doctor, swapping her paintbrush and writing cap for scrub hat and a scalpel when duty calls.
Melati Lum
Melati Lum is the author of the Ayesha Dean Mysteries book series for pre-teens which is soon to be adapted into a manga. She has a legal background in criminal prosecution, is an Ambassador for Australia Reads, and has work published in SBS Voices and OnLine Opinion. She lives in Adelaide with her family (including two super fluffy, hypoallergenic Siberian cats.)
Razeena Omar Gutta
As a South Asian Muslim born in Zimbabwe and now living in Australia, Razeena Omar Gutta has always had opportunities to explore different experiences and perspectives around the world. Her debut picture book, HANA’S HUNDREDS OF HIJABS will be published this year in the US by Barefoot Books, illustrated by Manal Mirza.
Razeena is an avid reader and shares her favourite books on Instagram @razeenareads. Inspired by her three book-loving children and a desire to see books on shelves that she never had growing up, Razeena especially enjoys highlighting Muslim lives in the joyful stories she writes for children.