AS WE continue to look at children literature, and as Carifesta is in the air, it would be useful for us to travel back to Carifesta X, staged here in Guyana in 2008, where over forty books were launched.

Of those forty-odd titles, more than half were written by Guyanese, written about Guyanese and written on Guyana.  However, there were only two books for children authored by Guyanese. One of those books was ‘Guyanese Stories for Children Everywhere’ by Sheila King, self-published in Guyana, 2008.
In this book, the author has shown that connectivity is very important when writing for children. Connectivity operates on different levels: It may come by way of reliving an experience, or by way of extending the imagination, or a combination of both.
Whenever it happens, however it happens, connectivity is imperative.
Adventure is also important in this type of writing; adventure with colour and flair — exciting, mysterious and suspenseful adventure; adventure filled with moves and movements to satisfy the craving of hyperactive children and introvert bookworms.
The title of this collection of stories by Sheila King is instructive: ‘Guyanese Stories for Children Everywhere’. The setting of the stories is Guyana, but the themes are universal: Themes that delight, themes that affect, and themes that excite children; themes that connect with children.
These stories are engaging, made so by excellent use of language, with generous doses of description. Both skill and technique came through years of practise. Lots of research went into this work, to make it as plausible as possible while maintaining the element of fantasy.
This thus showed her responsibility to youthful (and adult) minds – not to mislead. This juxtaposing of fact and fiction is commendable also, because the writer knows the need to connect to children by whatever means available to achieve the intended effect.
And there is no doubt in her mind as to her target audience/reader. It is clear: The writer working with clear vision; her intent. Each story leaves the reader with a sense of satisfaction; this is a complete piece of writing, nothing more can be added, nothing to take away; it is wholesome, holistic, completely engaging, entertaining and even instructive.
Looking deeper into the writing, you find that the characters are carefully and appropriately named. This made the stories instructive, without being didactic.
The many messages hit you with sudden realisation, causing you to nod in appreciation: This writer is pulling out all the stops!
The conversational tones of these stories sort of invite you, the reader, into the setting, the action and resolution. You are always present; a character in a certain setting. You are not allowed to wander away from your own story, not even for a moment; you are there to the appropriate end. All in all, ‘Guyanese Stories for Children Everywhere’, is satisfaction guaranteed.
How was the author able to perfect the art of writing for children? Sheila King is distinguished in many areas.  She bears the distinction of being instrumental in getting government to remove a ban on the employment of married women in the Public Service, which happened with the support of Eileen Cox and (CASWIG) the Council on the Affairs and Status of Women in Guyana.
In 1951, she was appointed the first female Probation & Welfare Officer. In 1965, she became the first female Labour Officer. In 1972, she was made the first Organising Secretary of  CASWIG. In 1975, she was appointed first female Assistant Chief Labour Officer.
Sheila King is distinguished in many areas but she takes great delight in writing for children. King has approached her writing with such fervour that she won the newly established Henry Josiah Writing Short Story for Children on numerous occasions, offering stiff competition to all and sundry – young and old.
The Henry Josiah Writing Short Story for Children is one of many competitions offered by The Guyana Annual magazine (formerly the Chronicle Christmas Annual) to encourage writing appropriate literature for children. Just to name one other such competition offered by the magazine: The Rajkumari Singh Writing Poetry for Children.
She is a font of knowledge especially in regards to literary and cultural occasions of yesteryear. Her memory is awesome as she regurgitates events – dates, venues, attendances with pinpoint accuracy. Her biographies of persons of substance are peppered with spicy anecdotes. Her voice is strong, her delivery impeccable – tone, diction, pronunciation and enunciation. She does not mince words.
Now four-score-and-ten, Sheila King is the most senior Guyanese woman writer, born and bred in Guyana, and still residing in the land of her birth.
(To respond to this author, either call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)