Q&A with Ayesha Braganza
Tell us about your story
My story is called Fairy Godmothers Don’t Exist. It is a riotous tale with wands, wishes and footballs. It is all about Naz and his hopeless Fairy Godmother who turns up at school and tries to help. Only that is when Naz’s troubles really begin, what with his Headteacher going missing, his best friend not talking to him and his Fairy Godmother even forgetting her wand.
What was your favourite bedtime story as a child?
My favourite bedtime story was The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. I often made up lands I wanted to find at the top of this magical tree, and I was desperate to go down the slippery-slip slide. As a writer I do get to make up new worlds – so at least one of my wishes came true!
Imagine cuddling up under a duvet and hearing the words ‘once upon a time’, knowing you are about to fall into a story that is halfway to a dream. That is The Faber Book of Bedtime Stories. Its tales are gentle enough for the youngest readers yet engrossing enough to hold older children and the adults reading the stories with them.
The winning formula that made this compendium is bringing together existing authors one talented illustrator. Anthologies like this, in my opinion, need more than one voice to bring the diversity both of life experience and of style that allows the reader a true range of tales to sink into before sleep. These stories celebrate friendship, culture and bravery amongst other things and encourage children to believe in a world without division. Sarah McIntyre is one of the biggest names for the target audience. Her pictures combine humour and warmheartedness that draws children in.
In Ayesha Braganza’s tale, Fairy Godmothers Don’t Exist, we meet energetic Naz who reckons Cinderella is a silly story until his own fairy godmother (or Magical Support Person) turns up on the football field to help him find a lost ball. Bonnie grants Naz’s football-based wishes, but the trouble is that Bonnie and Naz are up against Naz’s Scary Godmother – the one who makes sure that every wish does not come true.
This Cinderella story will appeal to children who prefer running around with a ball to pretty dresses and shoes. It also puts Global Majority children at the centre of the fairytale which is wonderful because too many Cinderella stories feature a slim white girl and a white prince. Furthermore, the Godmothers add some pantomime-style humour that will have children giggling and siding with Naz and Bonnie as they attempt to outwit the Scary Godmother. Sarah McIntyre’s illustrations are deliciously funny and her trademark humour adds to the tale.
This anthology has a great range of tales on the whole, and Ayesha Braganza’s story brings proper giggle-under-the-duvet comedy that children and the adults reading with them will delight in sharing. It promotes and celebrates bedtime reading. Its range of stories and colourful pages make for a treasure trove of bedtime reading that will be treasured for years to come.
- The Faber Book of Bedtime Stories is available now.
