Cayla Lewis is a South African children's book author and illustrator based in Cape Town. Since she was a little girl, she has always dreamt of creating stories through words and art. Inspired by nature and animals, she draws her inspiration from the beauty of South Africa. Cayla writes middle grade stories that explore themes of identity, belonging, and embracing who you are. Being diagnosed with psoriasis at the age of five, she understands what it feels like to have something you wish you could change about yourself and knows that these things do not need to hold us back. She believes that every child deserves to find themselves in the pages of a book. When she is not writing or illustrating, Cayla can be found exploring the coastline with her husband and their two rescue pups, often with a good book in hand.
Ben has always wanted to be part of the Kayaking Club, but he has a secret skin condition which makes him too self-conscious and scared of being bullied. Then he meets and befriends a mysterious whale shark who helps him realise: Who you are inside is more important than what you look like on the outside.
This brilliant and touching debut by Cayla Lewis was inspired by her own lived experiences as a child with a chronic skin condition.
Ben wou nog altyd deel van die kajakklub wees, maar hy het ’n geheime veltoestand wat hom selfbewus en bang maak om geboelie te word. Toe ontmoet hy ’n geheimsinnige walvishaai wat hom help besef: Wie jy binne is, is belangriker as hoe jy aan die buitekant lyk.
Hierdie briljante en aangrypende debuut deur Cayla Lewis is geïnspireer deur haar eie lewenservarings as ’n kind met ’n chroniese velsiekte.