“I want to be a paediatrician when I grow up because I like working with kids,” is the surprising answer Janélle Hendricks gave Hermanus Times in a recent interview.
Surprising, because this soft-spoken, confident 10-year-old from Riviersonderend is about to have her first book published.
Janélle says she has written quite a few books, but Grandpa’s Treasure Chest is the first to be published through Eden Lit.
“I had a story in mind and wanted to write it down before I forgot it,” she said. “It is not very long but I really like it.
“I always wanted to write, ever since I started reading at about 5 years old (although mum Gisela says 4½).”
According to her mother Janélle was a strong reader by age 5, when she started illustrating her stories. “I home schooled her and her older sister Zoe, but realised they needed interaction with other kids, so I enrolled them in the local school.
“We are English speaking at home and the school is Afrikaans-medium. This did not prevent Janélle, the youngest kid in class, from becoming a top achiever.”
“As a teacher I believe if I see brilliance in a child it needs to be exposed and promoted.
“This is where Jaco Koen of the local Funky Force Youth Development Programme came in and arranged to have her book published through Eden Lit publishers, where she is now a registered author. I am indeed a very proud mum.”
On Friday 25 February before the scheduled council meeting, TWK Mayor Kallie Papier honoured Janélle by handing over a Funky Youth Debut Author certificate.
Janélle told Hermanus Times she thinks her next school project will be to write a piece titled “The day I met the Mayor”.
Hardcover copies of Grandpa’s Treasure Chest will be available for purchase soon and will also be available on all major eBook platforms such as Amazon, Kindle, Google Play Books and others.