Northern Highlight - Rumana Yasmin
Northern Highlights
Rumana Yasmin
Where are you based, and how would you sum up the place in three words?
Middlesbrough - friendly, proud, evolving
What is special to you about working with children's books, and what is your favourite thing about it?
I simply love the process of collaborating with artists to make our shared vision for a book come alive. There is always so much exploration going on with how we can present words and pictures in each book, and this often leads to some great conversations. By the end of a project, I feel like we have all learnt a lot from each other, and are closer because of it.
When it comes to the end product, reading a completed book to a child, I love the chatter that follows. The best feeling is when a child is inspired to ask questions that open up conversations - it’s a great way to connect with them.
Tell us about the most recent book you've worked on or come across in your job.
We’re currently working on a board book, which is all about making and celebrating aloo bhorta, a quintessential Bengali dish made of spicy, mashed potatoes. Canadian-Bangladeshi author, Jumana Nikita Rahman, and British-Bangladeshi illustrator, Maryam Huq, are the amazing pair behind the fun words and colours of this cute book for toddlers.
If you could be transported to anywhere in the North/Scotland right now, where would it be?
The Wainstones, North York Moors.
What literary events have you attended or been involved with recently in the North/Scotland?
We are putting together a book fair as part of the Gem Arts Masala Festival in Newcastle this summer. The event will be a celebration of children’s book artists and publishers of South Asian heritage.
Name your favourite children’s book set in the North/Scotland.
Wind in the Willows - I only recently found out that it may have been set in Scotland.
What advice would you give to aspiring publishing professionals living in the North and Scotland?
The North is such an exciting place to be at the moment. There are organisations like Writer’s Block Middlesbrough for example, who are focused on developing publishing talent. I think we can all tap into this energy.
What would you like to see from children's publishing in the North and Scotland?
It is exciting to see that there is a great amount of effort being put into representing diverse creators and characters in children’s books, but I would also love to see more being done to cater to and reach out to multiple audiences.
Who are your favourite Northern/Scottish children’s authors?
I have been reading Mick Manning & Brita Granström books with our children ever since I was expecting my son, and I had gotten hold of How Did I Begin? to help us answer all our three-year-old’s questions.
What’s next on your TBR pile by a Northern/Scottish creative?
I’ve just recently been recommended Richard Milward’s novels. Looking forward to reading Apples.
You can find Rumana on:
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