Some of the best children's stories begin with the most ordinary moments. A rainy afternoon. A familiar walk. A child looking for someone to play with. In Deepa's hands, these everyday experiences become an invitation to imagine a little further.
Her latest picture book, If You Were a Monkey, follows one child's playful adventure into the jungle, where curiosity, imagination, and an unexpected friendship reveal how closely connected we are to the natural world. Inspired by real encounters with long-tailed macaques in Singapore, the story is a joyful celebration of play, wonder, and seeing the world through fresh eyes.
Ahead of her upcoming Storytime at Sea Apple, we spoke with Deepa about why play matters and the quiet magic that can be found in the everyday.
Your books begin with an everyday situation before opening the door to something imaginative. What draws you to that kind of storytelling?
We view the everyday aspects of our lives as mundane. But there is joy and wonder in the simplest of things. I remember observing my daughter staring at the ironing board when she was ten months old. Would she have been surprised if it transformed into a tree all of a sudden? Probably not! Starting with everyday situations that are familiar to children is also a little nudge for us to create our own fun - children are inherently good at this, and this is a precious quality in the times we live in.
Play is at the heart of both your books. Why do you think play remains such an important way for children to understand the world?
Play is the work of the child. Those are Maria Montessori’s words. I can’t put it any better than that. By playing, children discover themselves, their friends, their surroundings and by rushing it along or skipping it altogether in favour of structured and supervised time, we deprive them of the chance to experience, assimilate and wonder. I keep coming back to wonder because it is the first thing to be sacrificed in a world that’s in a rush. But wonder is at the heart of every big discovery that has changed our lives.
Your stories are full of exploration and curiosity. As a writer, do you begin with an idea, a place, or a child’s perspective?
I usually begin with an experience. Watching my toddler stuck indoors for days in a row during one of our rainy spells led to my first book, The Sun is Missing. The second book, If You Were a Monkey, came about as a result of three separate encounters with macaques that my family had in the space of a single week.
Many adults think of imagination as something children eventually grow out of. Do you see it that way?
Our imagination can turn dormant from disuse, regardless of whether we are children or adults. We may not value it because exercising it can seem like pointless day dreaming. But I don’t think it is ever completely lost.
What books, stories, or storytellers have stayed with you over the years?
My mother’s stories have left a deep imprint on me. She grew up in a large joint family. Her spirited retelling of the simple dramas of her childhood are incredibly evocative.
When children finish If You Were a Monkey, what conversation do you hope it sparks between them and the grown-ups reading alongside them?
We’re lucky to live in a city that understands the value of nature and puts a big patch of greenery within a few minutes of every home. But nature is not just passive trees or gentle butterflies. The long tailed macaques that we see in MacRitchie or Mount Faber can seem like intruders in our world. But clearly, it is a shared world. What would it be like if we popped into their world, even for a day? We might discover how much we have in common.
What are you looking forward to most about meeting families at the book reading?
For me, books and stories are always about connection. I’m looking forward to sparking moments of connection and delight within families, between children and their parents, and between children and the world around them.
If you'd like to experience If You Were a Monkey together, we'd love to welcome you to our next Storytime at Sea Apple.
Join us on Saturday, 25 July at The Sea Apple Create Store for a reading with Deepa, followed by a chance to meet the author and share a morning of stories and imagination.
Register for the reading here.
