Beda the brave – NIS teacher publishes her first book for children

Our amazing teacher, Ms. Kettia Dolcine has written and published a book. “Beda the Brave’, is about – Beda, an adventurous and fearless girl who uses her brainpower to explore the world.

Our amazing teacher, Ms. Kettia Dolcine has written and published a book. “Beda the Brave’, is about – Beda, an adventurous and fearless girl who uses her brainpower to explore the world.

Ms. Kettia is a Haitian-American writer, who has taught in elementary schools around the world. We are proud that she is a teacher at NIS.

We talk to Ms. Kettia about her inspiration for her book, the process of making it, as well as what children and parents can expect from reading about the adventures of ‘Beda the Brave’.

What is the book ‘Beda the brave’ about?
It is essentially a children’s motivational book. ‘Beda the Brave’ aims to encourage children to use their superpower, just like Beda uses her superpower (brainpower), to do and become anything they want. It’s the first book of the series – Adventures of Beda the Brave, and it follows the main character Beda as she explores the world using her superpower.

How can children identify with Beda the Brave?
She loves to explore, just like my students and many other children. They discover the world and use their brainpower to help them navigate it. Children often identify with book characters and I hope they will constantly seek knowledge and understanding  by putting their brain muscles to work, just like Beda.

What is the lesson you want children to learn from the book?
“You can do everything when you put your mind to it.” The book is for early years children, which means 3 to 5 years old). This is the stage when they are discovering and exploring the world around them, and they need encouragement and support. Beda keeps encouraging them not to lose that spark, not to be afraid to explore and try new things, and to believe in their powers.

What inspired you to write the book?
My students motivated me to write the book. It is very inspiring to see how capable they are and how much they put themselves out there. I wanted to capture that bold spirit and encourage children to keep it. As I practice writing and reading with them, the written format of this message seemed to be the best.

Ms. Kettia is devoted to addressing real-life issues that our children face in today’s fast-paced times. With her book ‘Beda the Brave’, she hopes she is providing a role model that will help students grow and develop in a fun and engaging way.

How long did it take you to finish writing the book?
About a month or so between writing and editing. There was a lot more time and effort put into the research I did before I  even put my ideas on paper.

During this time, I learned that it’s easier for children to relate to animals than humans, so I decided for my character to be a dog. The font is closer to handwriting, so it’s easier for kids to learn to read and encourages them to read independently. Once I had all these valuable inputs, Beda just pour out of me onto the paper.

Did you have a vision of the character or did an illustrator bring it to life?
The idea was there, and I wanted her to be a dog and a girl. Beda is a warrior – she is strong, bold, and brave. Unlike adults, those are all characteristics I see in children. That’s why I wanted her not to be afraid to try, experience, and jump into the world. Illustrator, Domenico Abate really brought her spirit alive, and thanks to his passion for comics and science fiction, Beda became a superhero.

It’s not an easy process. How much did your experience as a teacher help in the process?
A lot! Watching my students every day, observing their learning adventures and moving throughout their learning journey, and witnessing their “aha!” moments when they finally understand a new concept or get clarity on something they were confused about. Those are all moments that helped me create the spirit of Beda the Brave.