Hazel EdwardsThe Process of Creating ‘The Golden Dragon Flies…’
Many grandparents learn digital skills to keep in touch with young family interstate or overseas. Adult family historians may find our experience relevant because ‘a gift of the imagination’ book for a child is a different form of family history. As long as it relates to their interests, and is not ‘boring’.
My younger grandsons 5 and 7 live in Darwin and I’m Melbourne based. I’ve just returned from my annual ‘Grandma visit’ to Darwin. Beforehand, the boys requested ideas they wanted in this year’s book.
‘A Dragon. The colour Gold …and exercises like we do.’
We agreed I’d blend their story ideas , they would do the illustrations, a cover and their names would be on the booklet. A bio each. Online we discussed the process of choosing a title, having the text standout against the background and whether to have ‘stuff ‘on both facing pages or only one side. And whether the ‘dragon’ could be a dragonfly, common in Tropics.
A different kind of non-boring family history because it’s about THEM.
Normally, we Facetime on Mondays. ‘Homework with Grandma’, was requested by the 5 year old. (Homework is his high status word as just starting school). This week’s worksheet, was up to the letter ‘q’ for quill. His mother explained it was an olden day’s pen and Grandma might have used one.
Using family photos with front view faces is no longer viable due to cyber child protection.
So this year, we agreed they would paint the illustrations. The quill and autographing fascinated the children most. I found gold ink in Melbourne and the Darwin Nana found Darwin bird feathers. I read the draft book to each of their Darwin classes as part of my author visit. Next we’ll scan hi res photos and bind both version of the book, as each child did different artwork for the same words.
