Model essays for children

Lamayinta Anagi Rachana
Author: Kusuma de Mel
Godage Publishers, Colombo 10
Reviewed by R. S. Karunaratne

Writing for children is a challenging task. As children do not write for children, most adults take up the challenge to write for them. However, some authors fail to address children successfully because of their style of writing and the advanced vocabulary.

Kusuma de Mel, now in her mid-eighties, has been a popular writer of children's stories for many decades. The secret of her success in writing for children is that she writes simple sentences with a limited vocabulary which can be grasped by them easily.

Her latest contribution to children's literature is Lamayinta Anagi Rachana, a collection of Sinhala essays for beginners. The 30 model essays deserve plaudits as they are about people and things children are familiar with.

Many children find it difficult to write essays without guidance. Very often they are asked to write essays without telling them what or how to write. In such a situation parents can depend on books such as Lamayinta Anagi Rachana which serve as guides to essay writing.

The author has written short essays on familiar topics such as “My daily routine, the value of our country, the coconut trees, the Sinhala New Year, the Vesak festival, the home garden, Dhamma school, the butterfly, the tom-tom beater, the environment, folk poetry, reading , the kite and the blotting paper.

Lamayinta Anagi Rachana will encourage children to improve their reading and writing skills. It has covered topics generally discussed in the classroom.