1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: Seven Weekend Breakfast the Literature Corner. 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 2: It is fourteen minutes before ten o'clock. Welcome back to 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 2: your say No. Two we can breakfast with me books 4 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 2: and time for us to wrap up the show. And 5 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 2: as always on a Saturday, we're end the show talking 6 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 2: about books in the literature Corner. This week we are 7 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 2: talking about an interesting, imaginative book. It's more than just 8 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 2: a children's book. It's a tool that's also meant to 9 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: teach kids about renewable energy. The book is called Winnie 10 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 2: Catches the Sun. It is written by energy engineer and 11 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 2: emerging children's book author and Tity sing Moloy, who joins 12 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 2: us in the studio and Tity saying a very good 13 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 2: morning to you. 14 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to Weekend Breakfast. 15 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:41,319 Speaker 3: Good morning, thank you so much for having me. I'm 16 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 3: excited to be here. 17 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: Thank you for your time. 18 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 2: So tell us how an engineer ends up writing a book. 19 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 3: I know, I know, so one word curiosity, and I 20 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 3: think is one word I would say that puts the 21 00:00:55,640 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 3: two worlds together. So I always say that the book 22 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: is a dedication to my younger self. 23 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: Right. 24 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 3: So I was always a curious child growing up, and 25 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 3: I would have loved to learn about something like this. 26 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 3: So I was always out to know about any and everything, 27 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 3: including things that are outside of the things that I'm 28 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 3: exposed to in my day to day. I mean, I'm 29 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 3: from the small town in the Free State and cold 30 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 3: Free State. If you had told me at six seven 31 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 3: ag years old that we can generate energy from the sun, one, 32 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 3: I would be very my mind would be blown. But secondly, 33 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 3: I would definitely want to know more about it. So 34 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 3: I guess my audience. I write for children who are 35 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 3: in the same kind of environment that I was in, 36 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 3: with the same level of curiosity that I had. 37 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, and so how long did it take you to 38 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 2: start the book, right the book? Because for some people 39 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 2: that can be a long process. Yeah, but other people, 40 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: you know, it's a very quick process. 41 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: What is it like for you? 42 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 3: So the idea to write the book has always been lingering, 43 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 3: I must say, so, I'd say a couple of years. 44 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 3: Like I've always known what I wanted to do, and 45 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 3: I think to some extent I did have the storyline 46 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 3: kind of in my head. So the actual work was to, 47 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 3: you know, just to stop the procrastination and get going 48 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 3: with it. I would say about just a little under 49 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 3: about nine ten months for the whole process writing the book, 50 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 3: the editing, the illustrations, and eventually getting it published. It's 51 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 3: about about ten months to put the plan in action. 52 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: So tell us about Winnie. Who was Winnie? What is 53 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 1: her story? Yeah? 54 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 3: So Winnie is a curious young girl from the Northern 55 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 3: Cape in a town called Brittown, and she learns from 56 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 3: the things that she finds in her surroundings. She learns 57 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 3: firstly about a lamp, a solar powered lamp, and we 58 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 3: basically just fall adventure until she eventually figures out not 59 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 3: only the concept of solar energy, but finding out more 60 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: about you know, our more utility scale or large scale 61 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 3: solar power facilities. And I think it's so important that 62 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 3: the setting is in the Northern Cape because that's where 63 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 3: we have a lot of our solar power facilities. And 64 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 3: actually in the book we feature one of our oldest 65 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 3: ones in the town of the r Yeah. Yeah. 66 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: And so why was it so important for you to 67 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: write a book for kids that teaches them about solar power? 68 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: Which I mean, like you say, it's such. 69 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 2: A idea, like Okay, the sun is in the sky, yeah, 70 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 2: and I can harness it to make the lights in 71 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 2: the house go on. 72 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: That's wild. 73 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 2: And so for you, what was Why was solar power 74 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 2: particularly the thing you wanted to because you could have 75 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 2: talked kids about coal power. You've told them about wind. Yeah, 76 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: I could have taught them about gas. Yeah you chure solar, Yes, solar. 77 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 3: I think it has a lot to do with the 78 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 3: exposure in my line of work. I work more on 79 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 3: solar powered energy facilities as an in my capacity as 80 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:15,119 Speaker 3: an engineer. But I think I came to learn right 81 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 3: after publishing the book, you know, the value or the 82 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 3: importance of relatable literature and delivering educational content to kids, 83 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 3: especially when it comes to STEM related content. You know, 84 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 3: it's very rare or rather there's a bit of a 85 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 3: gap where we don't really see that content being delivered 86 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 3: with the South African context. So that's kind of what 87 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 3: I was trying to do with it. And yeah, just 88 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 3: bringing in experiences that or an opportunity rather for South 89 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 3: African children not only to learn about like complex content, 90 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 3: but also to see themselves represented or portrayed in the 91 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 3: educational literature as cap problem solvers. 92 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. 93 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, And of course Winnie is a young black girl, 94 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 2: as you are a young black woman in stem. Yes, 95 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 2: was that also because we know, you know, we still 96 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 2: don't have all that many particularly young black women in 97 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 2: the stems. Was that also quite deliberate that you represent 98 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 2: you have this figure that is Winnie, and she's a 99 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 2: black girl, she loves science, she's fascinated. 100 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: Because we could do with more women like yourself in 101 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: the field. 102 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 3: One hundred percent. So I think anyone who's in STEM 103 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 3: related field or any female engineers would agree to this 104 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 3: that you know, we don't have a lot of representation 105 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 3: growing up from the early years all the way up 106 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 3: to when you become a specialist or whatever. So I 107 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 3: really just wanted to have a familiar face being represented 108 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 3: in delivering this educational content in that category. 109 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: Yeah. 110 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, And so is that what makes us reading sort 111 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 2: of you know one of the statements about your book 112 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 2: that it's more than just a children it is an 113 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: investment in the future. Yes, what you just said, and 114 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,239 Speaker 2: you know kind of what you're hoping is also achieve 115 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 2: with this book is that what is then meant by 116 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 2: it is an investment in the future one percent? And 117 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 2: so who was the book for? Which age group is 118 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 2: it aimed at? 119 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: Yeah? 120 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 3: So I always say from I'd say about as soon 121 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 3: as the kid can read, so I'd say seven years 122 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 3: to a body eleven years. Those can read the book. 123 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 3: But the book is also very rich in like images, 124 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,479 Speaker 3: so it's in good nighttime read for a child that 125 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 3: cannot read yet, you can just read a book and 126 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 3: read a page and show them, you know, their illustration 127 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 3: on the next page. It's still a good read to 128 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 3: me format in that sense. 129 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 2: But yeah, and so often I find with children's books, 130 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 2: obviously they're aimed at the little ones, the kiddies, but 131 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 2: sometimes the parents can benefit from that context. Yes, and 132 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 2: I wonder if it's the same with When He Catches 133 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 2: the Sun, that you might be reading it for your 134 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 2: little one, but you end up learning quite a lot 135 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 2: about it. Of course, you know solar power and science, 136 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 2: and it's one of those things that indirectly benefits the parents. 137 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 3: I've had a few parents come tell me, okay, actually, 138 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 3: thank you for the book. My child enjoyed it, but 139 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 3: I myself learned a few things from. 140 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: Me many yeah, yeah, yeah, okay. How many languages is 141 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 2: it available and is it currently just in English? 142 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 3: At the moment only English? But later this year I'm 143 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 3: looking to have a few more African languages. It translated 144 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 3: to a few more African languages. 145 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, okay, And I mean you mentioned that for instance, 146 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 2: you know, parents have come up to you to say, 147 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 2: my little one and I have enjoyed the book. Has 148 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 2: that been kind of the overwhelming sentiment in terms of 149 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 2: you know, people who picked up the book. Have people 150 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 2: been surprised by what you know they found when they 151 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 2: started reading the book to their children? 152 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: Yeah? 153 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 3: No, I must say, all kinds of feedback that I 154 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 3: get is just it just overwhelms me. It doesn't matter 155 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 3: how small or big. So getting feedback that a child 156 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 3: saw a solar panel, they know what it is, and 157 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 3: they know what it is for my job is done right. 158 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 3: But all the way down to parents telling me who 159 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 3: their favorite character, the kids' favorite characters are, which characters 160 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 3: I need to bring back in the next book, and 161 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 3: things like that, pictures, videos that I get from their parents. 162 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 3: So really, all kinds of feedback that I have received 163 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 3: just really hits the spot. 164 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, And so where can we find the book? 165 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: Is it hard copy? 166 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 3: Yes? 167 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: And where is it available? 168 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 3: Yes? So the book is hard copy. It is available 169 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 3: on my website. It's Winnie Catches the Sun Dot Company. 170 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 3: Dot site, so that's Winnie Catches the Sun dot Company 171 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 3: dot site, or you can just