Learning can be fun too! Everyone should have good knowledge about their heritage and its values. Our historical culture, directly explained, might be boring, but modifying it into illustrated stories can be a fun learning experience.

Luke Davis was born to an Australian mother and British father. His parents raised him along with his two brothers, mainly in Nepal. 

 

Luke graduated from the American school- Lincoln School- in Kathmandu and went back to Australia. There he completed a degree in English Literature and a further master’ degree in Education and Sports Coaching. Luke returned to Nepal to teach at his old school and now has his own family. He wrote "The Magical Monkey of Swayambhu" for his children while living at the foot of Swayambhu hill in an attempt to help them learn and understand the values of courage, compassion, interdependence and willpower. The story is also a letter of gratitude to Nepal.

 

When Luke was a child growing up in Nepal, he listened to a story that has been told and retold for centuries - the legend of how the wondrous valley of Kathmandu came to be. It is a story that captivated him as a child and inspired him as a writer.

 

Luke tells us, "My books are love letters to Nepal, its teachers, and its teachings. Nepal has always been a land of magic and marvel, where astounding natural beauty inspires and awes people throughout the world. But moving beyond the world's highest mountains, it is a land of myths. Of history. Of spirituality and self-discovery". 

 

In his stories, the writer tries to intertwine elements of ancient and sacred scriptures - specifically the Swayambhu Purana - with a fantasy world. His characters are fictional, and through them, he tries to convey the interconnectivity of all things, the struggle between light and dark, and the time-less transcendent message that love conquers all.

 

As per the legend, Swayambhu, meaning self-arising light, is the first stupa on earth. When we visit Swayambhu, we find hundreds of playful monkeys. They are like the unofficial greeters for tourists and are occasionally happy to pose for a photo in exchange for some food. This is one of the reasons why the writer centred his story around one of these creatures and created Machig. The meaning of Machig goes as a Tibetan name loosely translated as mother earth. The character represents a playful and waifish chimp. He is also the guardian of the light since the dawn of time. The book is his legend.

 

Illustrated beautifully by Ratna Sagar Shrestha, the books look exciting, and the stories they contain teach us about culture and character. The beautifully portrayed scenes of kindness and compassion lead them to be one of the best books for children. Cultural knowledge with a touch of modernity and fantasy makes the books different. The book "The Legend of Machig" lets us into the less known story about Swayambhu. It might help parents educate their children about history and learn about the heritage site. "The Magical Monkey of Swayambhu" helps you learn about love and dedication.

 

These books work as quick reads and bedtime stories for your children. They not only help bring a new perspective to the heritage site but also add great colour and flare to it.