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It is Important to be Humble
Tectonic Teff follows a strong young grain who thinks he can repair the entire village alone after an earthquake and learns that it is okay to ask others for help. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration is my mother who, as a single mother, worked extremely hard at raising me and at acclimating to a new country. It is with the help of the community around us that we will forever be grateful for. My mother was proactive and was very open to receiving guidance from others and she constantly gives back in return. Tectonic Teff doesn’t have the same personality as my mom though, he is quite different but transforms after a natural disaster forces him to learn big lessons!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Mosh. Fajar Shobaru?
Mosh. Fajar Shobaru is a great artist. I have multiple artists for the books in my series Growing Pains of the Grains and they are all very talented. The collaboration process took a lot of time and many drafts since I am very particular about how I would like the illustrations to express the story and Mosh. Fajar Shobaru used his talent and abundant patience with me.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
The biggest lesson in this book I believe is learning to be free from pride or arrogance and that it is important to be humble because we all need others at times no matter how strong we think we are alone.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
Tectonic Teff is the 7th book in my series Growing Pains of the Grains, and the next book is yet to be determined, but it’s exciting to think about it!
Author Website
Tectonic Teff
Relying on others does not always come easily. It can be particularly difficult to convince children to ask for help when they are in stubborn moods. Fortunately, author Vy Lien provides readers with an engaging tale centered around Tectonic Teff, a strong young grain who quickly learns the importance of knowing when to handle things alone and when to rely on the help they have been offered. When an earthquake destroys their village, Teff believes he is the only one who can put it back together again. He soon learns he could not be more wrong.
Tectonic Teff, by Vy Lien, provides young readers with important lessons in humility while including nonfiction elements. This book is educational on multiple levels, making it a valuable resource for parents, counselors, and teachers. Teff is a headstrong character with whom many readers will relate. When he tries to take on more than he can handle, he is humbled by the slow and steady pace of the villagers, who are far smaller and weaker than him. Teff and the other villagers–-the Nurturing Nettles, Motivated Micro-Greens, Feeble Figs, and Creative Cardamoms–will provide excellent talking points for parents and teachers as they explore Lien’s book together. There is much to be learned from Teff’s transformation from confident to arrogant to humbled as the story progresses. However, there is just as much to be gained from families discussing the contributions of the book’s secondary characters.
Tectonic Teff, by Vy Lien, is a unique read that delivers a powerful lesson not often found in children’s books. Young readers will discover Lien’s memorable and relatable characters as they venture into this exciting world along with Teff and his pet sheep Woolly.
Pages: 36 | ISBN : 978-1-960541-08-6
LITERARY TITAN 