Mail & Guardian Online - October 24, 2007
Thabo Mohlala

R35 Existing literature and learning materials on HIV/Aids are targeted mainly at adults, therefore it is timely and fitting to have books that cater for children. Bringing children into the equation could help demystify the pandemic and empower children with vital knowledge. And this is what the book, Brenda has a Dragon in her Blood, seeks to achieve.

The book was penned by a Dutch writer, Hijltje Vink, and the relevance of the message it conveys, the design and simplicity of the language, saw it translated into all 11 South African official languages and it is available also in Braille.

Vink based the book on her intimate personal experience of fostering an orphaned three-year-old Rwandan girl named Brenda when her mother died of Aids. She has three siblings, Eliza, Laura and Molly. After her mother died, Brenda suffered huge social prejudice from her friends and the community.

So Vink attempts to show the negative effects of prejudice successfully through the use of accessible language and the striking illustrations, which create a sense of familiarity and immediacy for children. Brenda is portrayed as an energetic and intelligent girl who, like any other child her age, enjoys to play, draw, feed ducks and help out with household chores. She enjoys every bit of what she does thanks, in part, to a warm atmosphere at home.

This scenario emphasises the importance of family support, that despite living with the virus, an infected person can lead a normal life. Nothing distinguishes Brenda from other children except when the virus attacks her. When this happens, she feels tired and sleepy and this is when she needs to take her medication.

But the writer might run into trouble with the HIV/Aids activists. They have always warned against portraying the virus in a manner that frightens readers in an effort to discourage them from reckless sexual behaviour.

For instance, in the book, the virus is depicted as a grotesque green gogga that would surely send a shiver down most children's spines. The gogga always occupies the same space as Brenda and its disposition serves to reflect Brenda's condition.

If it is lying dormant and sluggish, it means Brenda is feeling on top of the world and can prance about like any other kid. But its raised tail and energetic gait symbolise the sickly state of Brenda's life. It means it is time for Brenda to take her medication. The book ends with two important sections.

The first is the equivalent of "frequently asked questions" pitched at children. The second gives information on organisations that can be contacted regarding information on HIV/Aids. These are: Aids Helpline, loveLife, Childline, Hope World Wide and Planned Parenthood Association.

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