“Millions of children face child sexual abuse every year. I believe awareness among children can help them to respond in situations that compromise their safety.”
– Sneha Sabu
According to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), approximately 28.5% of Australians aged 16 years and older have reported experiencing child sexual abuse. Further, an analysis by Barth et al of 55 studies from 24 nations shows the prevalence of child sexual abuse ranges from 3% to 17% for boys and from 8% to 31% for girls. These studies, among others, underscore the fact that the safety and well-being of our children are more critical than ever. Child sexual abuse remains a pervasive issue affecting millions of children worldwide each year. Creating awareness and educating children about personal safety are vital steps in preventing such incidents.
We had the succinct privilege of knowing the thoughts of Sneha Sabu, a strategist and author based in Sydney, New South Wales, whose book Stay Safe with Ruby and Reuben has garnered significant acclaim for its contributions to child safety education. Sabu’s dedication to empowering children with the knowledge and tools to stay safe shines through her work and has earned her numerous awards and accolades.
Despite the sensitive nature of the topic, Sabu’s approach is both engaging and informative, and has made the book accessible for young readers. Her book has received widespread recognition, winning eight awards, including the 2023 Independent Publisher Book Awards Bronze Winner in Children’s Interactive and the 2023 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention in the Global and Social Issues category. Additionally, it was honored with the May 2022 International Impact Book Award. It also won several BREW Book Award titles including the BREW Readers’ Choice Award Book of the Year 2022-2023.
Beyond Stay Safe with Ruby and Reuben, Sabu’s literary repertoire extends to 25 short stories and several poems. Her dedication to raising awareness of child safety issues and promoting education through literature is evident in her body of work.
Join us as we explore Sabu’s insights on child safety, the inspiration behind her writing, and her commitment to making a positive impact through literature in this brief interview.
TWB: Congratulations on winning a BREW book award! Can you share with us a brief overview of your award-winning book and what inspired you to write it?
SS: Stay Safe with Ruby and Reuben was written to create awareness among children to protect children from child sexual abuse. It was during Covid I decided to write the book. I wanted the book to be meaningful and make a difference. Millions of children face child sexual abuse every year. I believe awareness among children can help them to respond in situations that compromise their safety. My experience working for a child focused International NGO and working as a sub editor for a children’s magazine made me feel I have reasonable experience to write for children. The work with the NGO helped me understand issues facing children in this space.
TWB: What elements of writing do you feel contributed most significantly to your book’s success in this regard?
SS: Simple and easy to understand language that suits the children, visual imagery, activities and games, and interactive aspect of the book has contributed to the success of the book.
TWB: The BREW book awards emphasize literary quality and excellence in writing. What specific techniques or literary devices did you employ to ensure your book stood out in terms of craftsmanship and storytelling?
SS: Personification, imagery, and tone were used to enhance the book’s literary quality. The nature of the topic and its sensitivity were considered from a child’s perspective.
TWB: The BREW book awards celebrate books that offer unique perspectives or explore important themes. What do you hope readers take away from your book, and what message or theme were you most passionate about conveying?
SS: Every child deserves to live his/her life to the fullest. Everyone has a role to play in protecting children. Creating awareness among children is the first step. This book aims to create awareness among children on good and bad touches, how to be safe while going and coming back from school, how to be safe in school, secret code and safe sleep overs.
TWB: Writing a book often involves significant research and creativity. Can you share any interesting anecdotes or challenges you encountered during the writing process of your award-winning book?
SS: This first draft of the book was written in two days. The topic was too close to my heart that I could not stop writing day and night. I could not sleep that the train of thought was haunting me through my sleep. I was obsessed and deeply connected to the cause that, until the draft was completed, I could not rest.
TWB: The BREW book awards recognize excellence in various genres and styles. How do you think your book contributes to or challenges the conventions of its genre, and what sets it apart from other works in the same category?
SS: I believe every book in this genre has a contribution to make to the lives of children. We are all contributors to make a difference. The range of topics covered, imagery, simplicity and tone make it distinct.
TWB: As a BREW book award winner, your work is recognized for its outstanding quality. What advice would you offer to aspiring writers who are striving to achieve similar success and recognition in the literary world?
SS: You have what it takes to write a book. All you need to do is – get started. Once you begin you will evolve and evolve in different iterations. Give it your 100 per cent, and your passion and hard work will take you places.
TWB: Winning the BREW book award can open doors to new opportunities and audiences. How do you plan to leverage this recognition in your future writing endeavors or literary career?
I want to leverage this opportunity to make the book available free of cost for children who cannot afford a copy. I also want to explore multiple genres to unleash the multiple variants/shades of author hidden within me.
TWB: Finally, what’s next for you as an author? Are there any upcoming projects or ideas you’re excited to pursue following the success of your award-winning book?
SS: My next book My Lost Pages is getting ready for launch this year. My Lost Pages is an eclectic collection of 25 poems written in free style. The poems are reflective and conversational. These poems will make you laugh, reflect and unmask the hidden/lost thoughts that were lost in transition in the author’s mind. ⭐
“Every child deserves to live his/her life to the fullest. Everyone has a role to play in protecting children.”
– Sneha Sabu
For more information about the BREW Book, Blog, and Poetry Awards, click here.
Get a copy of Stay Safe with Ruby and Reuben by Sneha Sabu by clicking here.
Visit Sneha Sabu’s website. Click here.
Share your thoughts on empowering child safety and raising awareness by commenting below. Here are some questions to get you started:
- How do you believe children can be better equipped to recognize and respond to situations compromising their safety?
- What role do you think parents, guardians, and educators play in teaching children about personal safety?
- In what ways can literature and storytelling contribute to addressing important social issues like child sexual abuse?
Your insights are valuable! Let’s work together to create safer environments for children everywhere.
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Thank you for this article.
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You are welcome. Thank you for commenting.
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It’s crucial to keep our kids safe, and books like “Stay Safe with Ruby and Reuben” are an invaluable tool for parents and caregivers to broach a hard subject.
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Indeed. They serve as valuable tools for parents and caregivers to initiate important conversations and instill essential safety lessons in children. It’s heartening to see resources available to help keep our kids safe.
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