Reader Interview #1: Tanya Shliahov looks for children's books that 'tell the whole story'.

Reading, stories, faith and books. These are some of my favourite things. And – if you’ve been reading my blog posts or following some of my reviews – you’ll probably know I can be a bit picky.
But I got to thinking, surely I’m not the only fussy children’s book person out there. Surely there are other people who love kids’ books but appreciate a thoughtful approach to picking and choosing what they share.
Maybe this love of children’s books goes back to their own childhood?
Maybe they’ve got some good tips or even recommendations to share?
Maybe I could create a series of blog posts where I interview them and find out!
And guess what? That’s exactly what I’m going to do. Starting today as I chat with Tanya Shliahov!

I first met Tanya through an Omega Writers* prayer group. She's a Queensland based writer and an invested aunt who loves reading books with her neiced and nephews!
​(A selection of some of the children's books she enjoys sharing with kids is the cover image for this post.)

Penny: Please tell me a little about yourself and how you use books in your relationships with children.
Tanya: I work in aged care. I enjoy sports, reading, writing, swimming and exercising on my mini trampoline. I have five nieces and one nephew. The other week, I read my nephew Jack and the Beanstalk because he likes giants. My neices are very reluctant readers but one of them has discovered that she likes the Baby-sitters Club. I recently gifted my other neice a Yoto player to try encourage the enjoyment of stories (a Yoto player reads audible books to children). She enjoyed listening to the Roald Dahl story about a giant peach.
 
Penny: When you are looking for Christian children's books, whether to give as gifts or for your own family/classroom, what is important to you?
Tanya: When buying Christian books that are based on the Bible, I look for books that tell the whole story. (For example, I once saw a picture book about Jesus’ crucifixion, but it didn't explain why Jesus died. Also, although there are some Bible stories that should be censored for children (King David and Bathesheba), I have noticed many kids’ Bible-books leave out big chunks of the story, making them meaningless, spiritually).
I also look for books that don’t promise children that becoming a Christian will make them healthy, wealthy and happy. Christians experience sickness, financial stress and sadness too sometimes.

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"When buying Christian books that are based on the Bible, I look for books that tell the whole story."
- Tanya Shliahov

Penny: Can you think of a book that made a big impact on you as a child? What was it and why was it so important at that time?
Tanya: A book that made a big impact on me as a child was a book about a secret room covered in ivy. A sad girl found it and frequently sought refuge in it. I can’t remember what was making her sad but I remember she had a cranky grandmother who lived in an upstairs room at the end of a windy staircase. I think it was called The Secret Room but when I tried to re-buy it as an adult to give to my nieces, I discovered there are lots of books called The Secret Room. The book was really important to me at the time because I had to share my bedroom with my brother and then later my sister. I also had some other problems which made me long for a secret room of my own.

Penny: If you could recommend one Christian children's book to the readers of my blog, what would it be and why?
Tanya: I'd recommend Rainbow Garden by Patricia St. John. Its descriptions are beautifully written. The story made me feel warm and glowing inside and although it has a lengthy explanation of the gospel in it, the message doesn’t sound preachy or forced. It flows.

Penny: Well, I'm a bit of a Patricia St John fan too, so I'll back that recommendation!
I'd love to hear if other people have favourite Patricia St John books. Or, if someone knows the name/author of Tanya's Secret Room novel, maybe we can help her track it down!
​* Omega Writers is Australia's Christian writers network.