Author Ranae Patel
Image: Supplied
Renae Patel, an account executive and mother of three, has now added author to her name.
The 36-year-old, of Johannesburg, has taken on a creative project close to her heart: "Jayana’s Divine Adventures," a children's book aimed at introducing young readers to Hindu culture through engaging and relatable storytelling.
She said the idea for the book was deeply personal.
Patel wanted to impart the teachings of Hindu deities to her three-year-old daughter, Jayana.
"I also wanted to impart the values the deities represent in a way that felt simple, warm and child-friendly," said Patel.
"As I started creating stories for her, I realised that many other children could also benefit from learning these lessons through storytelling and creativity.
"I chose to focus on Hindu deities because each deity represents qualities and values that children can apply in everyday life. Rather than presenting religion in a complicated way, I wanted to introduce these lessons through relatable situations children experience daily, such as honesty, gratitude, courage, helping family, responsibility, creativity, and caring for nature. The stories are short and simple so that young readers can stay engaged and connect with the lessons naturally."
She said the book included both well-known and lesser-known deities, including elemental deities that many children might not know.
Patel said some of the deities featured are Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Hanuman, Rama, Durga, Kali, Narasimha, Kartikeya, Brahma, Dhanvantari, and Parvati.
The book also featured elemental deities such as Agni Dev (fire), Vayu Dev (wind), Varuna Dev (water), Surya Dev (sun), Chandra Dev (moon), Prithvi Devi (earth), Indra Dev, Ganga Devi, and Kubera.
She said "Jayana’s Divine Adventures" was her first published children’s book and the feedback had been positive thus far.
"Parents have appreciated that the book combines storytelling, colouring, creativity, and meaningful life lessons in one experience. The inclusion of a free box of crayons has also been well received, as it makes the book more interactive and enjoyable for children.
"The book is aimed at children aged 5 and older. However, it also depends on each child’s individual skill level and interests. Younger children can still enjoy the stories and colouring activities with guidance from parents. The colouring sections include different levels of detail and difficulty, making the book engaging for a wider range of ages and abilities."
The artwork for the book was created using a combination of AI-assisted creative tools and design platforms such as Canva as part of the visual production process.
"I also personally edited and refined the illustrations extensively to match the storytelling and the book's overall vision. Jayana and the family members she interacts with throughout the book were designed to resemble our actual family members, which made the project especially personal and meaningful to create.
Patel is currently working on a memoir and is exploring future educational and creative projects for children.
She is married to Rimal Patel and they have two other children Sianne Padaychy and Shaden Padaychy, who passed away in 2017.
For details on the book WhatsApp Patel on 062 491 4664.