A Taylors Hill author has penned a series of books inspired by her late brother.
The first book in Nina De Goederen’s ‘Johnny the inventor’ series will be released on 5 December.
De Goederen, a retired English teacher of 39 years, said her main character, Johnny, was based on her brother John, who was called Johnny by their mum.
In the book, Johnny invents products using broken items his mum and dad are planning to throw out.
In the first book, Johnny tries to create a garbage gobbler, while in book two, he believes he has invented healing soap. In the third book, Johnny tries to make flying shoes.
“[My brother] always though he could create things to better the world,” De Goederen said.
“He did make the soap.
“I remembers … he mashed up all the soap in the house with water and mum’s perfume and chopped grass. There was no soap in the house!”
De Goederen said she hopes the books, aimed at six-eight-year-olds who are just becoming independent readers, will encourage creativity and personal growth in children.
“We always had books in the house and imagines the worlds they took us to,” she said.
De Goederen will have a stall at Watergardens Shopping Centre from 15-21 December where she will be signing copies of Johnny the inventor: The garbage gobbler.
She said books two and three, illustrated by her husband, will be available next year.
