Nothing could be more fun for kids at a playdate than a Mommy who tells stories. That was exactly what turned Duja Zaveri into a storyteller. A former equity investment professional, she is passionate about children’s books and reading with young kids. Bookstores and exhibitions are her favorite place to hangout. Here is her story in her own words.
Define yourself – the person, and the storyteller.
I come from a business family and have studied commerce but I always loved learning and teaching. When I was in college I would coach school children. Later I taught at The Akanksha Foundation. I love acting and am very talkative. All this manifested in my becoming a storyteller. Storytelling has given me a way to utilize my words productively. Like many others, the birth of my child Shaurya gave birth to the storyteller in me. His love for stories gave me an incentive to take it up professionally.
What made you a storyteller?
I started reading to my son when he was three months old. Now he is five. He loved stories and would forget all his discomforts when I would tell him a story. That is what made me realize how much stories can impact young kids. My friends’ kids loved coming to my house because I would tell them stories and my siblings and friends pushed me to take it up professionally.
Tell us about the story of your venture. How did you start it, the challenges faced and how you overcame them?
One day I had a play-date at my house. Typically a playdate would have the moms gossiping and nannies entertaining the kids. But I wanted it to be different. I read a story to the kids. The moms got so engrossed in the story and they wanted more ! So we we came up with the idea of having these ‘story’ play-dates on a regular basis and wherever the play-date was to be held, I would be the official storyteller. Around the same time I came across Little Readers’ Nook book subscriptions and subscribed to them for my son. I got in touch with them and after that there has been no looking back.
What are the kind of audiences you work with? Which is your favorite audience?
I work with 3 to 6 year old kids. And they surely are my favorite. So innocent and pure. There is never a dull moment with them around. They come up with such intelligent thoughts and ideas sometimes that it leaves you amused.
How have the stories in your life influenced your style of storytelling and the way you use stories?
While I was growing up I would spend a lot of time with my uncle who was an amazing orator. His confidence and style has surely rubbed on to me. Also I come from a very big family. My father had twelve siblings and each sibling had two or three kids. So we were a big gang of cousins all playing pranks and having fun with each other. Life was a party. Those are moments I cherish and keeping using those stories even today while talking to children. Kids take keen interest in life stories, it makes them curious and more imaginative.
Any particular incident/anecdote from your workshops/sessions that is special to you?
I did a story called worry dolls with my kids where a boy made a worry doll, put it under his pillow and slept well since the worry doll took away all his worry. A girl who came to my sessions went back home and made a worry tower so that it would take away all the worry from the world. And I was so proud of her. Kids are very receptive to troubles around them, more than what we give them credit for and love being helpful. Unlike what we adults believe, they don’t need to be told how they have to do something. They just come up with ways to do it.
Any story that you particularly love using?
I love using ‘What the Ladybird Heard’ by Julia Donaldson. It’s about animals helping each other in difficult times. Kids love animals and it’s got a song with animal sounds which is their favorite too.
- Buy What The Ladybird Heard on Amazon.in and Amazon.com
What is your advice to those who want to take up storytelling as a full-time profession?
The world needs storytellers. Stories can heal, stories can connect people, stories brings the world together. Stories can be used to pass on any information in an interesting way. Be a good listener and you would be a good storyteller. The more you listen the more you would have to tell. Also people connect with emotions. Emoting is an important aspect of story telling along with good voice modulation.
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Duja Zaveri is a storyteller with Little Readers’ Nook. Read more about Little Readers’ Nook here.
Don’t Miss: We love storytellers as much as we love storytelling. On Tell-a-Tale, we’ve featured a lot of talented storytellers, in the past.
Are you a Storyteller? If you’re a storyteller who is actively pursuing storytelling and would like to be featured in this column, drop us a mail at contact AT tell-a-tale.com or reach out to us via Facebook.
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