{
  "id": 7024883,
  "title": "Meet the author rewriting the rules of children’s fiction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/meet-the-author-rewriting-the-rules-of-childrens-fiction",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-12T23:45:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/meet-the-author-rewriting-the-rules-of-childrens-fiction/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Award-winning international children's author Jann Weeratunga is challenging traditional notions of heroes in children's literature with her Polly's Piralympics series. Disability is not presented as a limitation in this series; instead, it is celebrated as an integral part of a character's identity and adventure. Weeratunga's inspiration for the series came from Sir Philip Craven's inspiring words at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, where he recalled a young boy identifying a pirate with prosthetics as an Olympian. The series follows Polly, a bird-napped African parrot, who overcomes bullying and joins a team of pirates competing in unique events like three-legged races and walk-the-plank diving. Through interactive pages, children can engage with the stories by coloring, drawing, writing, and responding, making it a more immersive experience. Weeratunga's journey into authorship began with a decade-long career as a Scout Leader in the UK and later as an English teacher in Sri Lanka, where she established a small school to teach English. Her commitment to education and community service continued when she established a non-profit organization to aid tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka. Now living in South Africa, Weeratunga draws inspiration from the world around her and continues to write stories that promote inclusion, leadership, and the exploration of universal childhood experiences.",
  "summary": "Representation matters: By Ifham Nizam “There are no books written about pirates with prosthetic limbs, sporting blades, or racing wheelchairs—that is, until now,” says award-winning international children’s author Jann Weeratunga, whose Polly’s Piralympics series is challenging conventional ideas about who gets to be the hero in children’s literature. For Weeratunga, representation is not simply…",
  "key_points": [
    "Jann Weeratunga challenges traditional heroes in children's literature.",
    "Disability celebrated as integral part of character identity.",
    "Series inspired by Sir Philip Craven's Paralympic words."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Jann Weeratunga's Polly's Piralympics series redefines heroism in children's literature by portraying disability as a celebrated aspect of a character's identity, promoting inclusion and challenging traditional notions of heroism.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}