On June 5th, 2RRR welcomed children’s author, Suzanne Gervay on ‘Chook’s Morning Roost’ as they delved into the hardships she faced as a child of refugee parents. In the interview, we discussed the importance of teaching children about belonging and acceptance in society.
Gervay was raised by her Hungarian parents in Australia, and her stories explore genres of cultural diversity, othering, bullying, illness, gender, and mental health. Her books aid in allowing children to feel valued and seen when challenged, allowing many to find comfort in her writing.
“Story has the power to unlock those great issues to help them (children) on their way,” said Gervay.
When reflecting on her childhood, Gervay said, “I’ve always written. I thought everyone was writing novels at seven years of age. ”
Gervay had an inextricable relationship with her parents and her father impacted her drive to write children’s stories. After her father passed away from brain cancer in her thirties, Gervay stated that her father’s spirit gave her the “gift of the spirit of writing, and it settled into my heart and I was able to honour him in my original adult stories.”
Gervay has written many books, including ‘I am Jack’ and recently published ‘Parrot Palace’ which provide education to children about our multicultural and diverse society.
‘I am Jack’ is about Gervay’s son who was a victim of bullying, and her story aims to allow children to feel seen and valued when struggling with friendships.
“I felt like a complete and utter failure,” said Gervay in response to her son’s struggles.
As a result, she created this series, to educate and allow other children to feel valued, “I became a children’s author… because they needed me. Not even my children, all the children.”
Similarly, ‘Parrot Palace,’ published on March 5th 2025, explores the joy of children as they navigate a diverse society. The story follows three children aged between 11-12 of differing nationalities who live in a three-story apartment block. As they interact with each other, they learn about differing family cultures, beliefs and customs. This story aims to represent the importance of acceptance and belonging in our multicultural society.