Nursing student changes how kids read

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Betsy Stenard

Staff  Writer

“Silly Nomads,” a collection of children’s books about growing up in Jamaica, was written by Marcus Mohalland, a nursing student at Hudson Valley Community College.

The children’s series is loosely based about Mohallands life growing up in Jamaica and tells the story of two brothers growing up in Jamaica.

“They create their own adventures because they were poor, they didn’t have money to buy video games or any of that stuff,” Mohalland said. “So most of the time they make their own games…they’re always using their imagination.”

The books are intended for children ages 8 to 12. Mohalland hopes that children reading the series will learn something from them.

“I’m hoping they enjoy their childhood, and at the same time keep in mind that childhood is short,” Mohalland said. “They’re not going to be a child forever,” he said. “They should take their studies seriously and strive to achieve their greatest potential.”

Mohalland co-authored “Silly Nomads” in 2013 with co-worker Jan Lewis. He first met Lewis when working together in a New York State youth program.

“I told Jan many of my childhood stories one day [and] I said, ‘I’m going to write this book about going on a nomad adventure,’” Mohalland explained.

Lewis had always wanted to write and asked to work with Mohalland to create the book series.

“We wrote and wrote and at one point we had at least 500 pages of stories,” he said. “That was the first three books.”

Neither author had writing experience before the series.

“I wasn’t big on reading when I was a kid, all I wanted to do was play,” Mohalland said.

According to Mohalland, his dad told him the importance of reading and how living in America and having a career.  “When I came to the United States I realized how important it is that kids start reading,” he said.

“Our books now are being read in schools in seven to eight different countries,” he explained. “We’ve gotten a lot of emails from all over, saying the books are amazing and that we should turn them into a cartoon series.”

To reach young readers, Mohalland and Lewis work with nonprofits and visit schools.

“Currently, I go to the schools and I talk about literacy,” Mohalland said. “I talk about my childhood [and] try to motivate these kids to get into the habit of reading, a love of reading.”

Mohalland works full-time in addition to promoting his book series and attending Hudson Valley Community College.

Mohalland is currently asking universities and professors if they’re interested in using his books for their classes. According to Mohalland, his books can be used for early childhood, English literature and Caribbean and African studies curriculums.

Mohalland tells new writers that the brainstorming process is essential.

“I’ve given advice to a lot of people who are starting out,” Mohalland said. “They feel like they have to get everything perfect,” he said. “I think the most important part is to get your thoughts out.”

His advice is not to worry about where the story is going but to instead put your imagination onto paper and worry about the other parts later.

For more information visit http://mohallandlewisllc.com.