Rhyming adventure books for kids – with a message

SHWETA ARORA has written six adventure books for kids age two to eight years. Books By Zoya’s Mum is a collection of rhyming stories shaped by the values imparted by her mother. She hopes that the messages of character building will stay with children well after story time.

Tell us about your rhyming adventure books.

My books are imaginative, rhyming adventures where values are woven naturally into the story: a bee teaches kindness, a bunny courage, a princess leadership, while a clever donkey challenges stereotypes, a star teaches kids to embrace who they are, and a flying dinosaur reminds children to believe in themselves, even when the world doesn’t.

How did you research for stories around character building?

My research comes from reading about child development, behavioural psychology and, importantly, observing children. As a mother, and through storytelling and creative writing sessions, I see first-hand what makes children laugh, listen, participate and think. My aim is for children to absorb the message while simply enjoying a good story.

What inspired you to write the rhyming stories?

After nearly 20 years in the corporate world across telecommunications and fintech, becoming a mother made me reflect on what success really means, and what I wanted to pass on to my daughter, Zoya.

My late mother, who was a doctor, is my greatest role model; she embodied kindness, courage, strength and leadership.

I realised that while we spend so much time preparing children for external success, it’s their values that ultimately shape who they become.

I also saw story time as a powerful window when children are engaged and receptive. That became the foundation of Books By Zoya’s Mum: entertaining stories that introduce character building values without feeling like lessons.

What would you like readers to take away from the books?

I want children to enjoy the story first, but I hope the message stays with them after story time is over. When they encounter fear or failure, meet someone who needs kindness or face a situation requiring courage, perhaps they will remember a story they can relate to. If this become part of their everyday thinking, the books have achieved their purpose.

What was one highlight during your writing process?

The greatest highlight has been seeing my books reach bookstores across Singapore and the NLB catalogue, and watching children respond during story time with them.

Montessori For Children (Newton Campus) holds a special place in this journey as well – it was the first school to welcome my books and give me the opportunity to share my rhyming stories with children.

Are you already planning more story time books for kids?

Always! I’m working on stories exploring children’s little big feelings and the emotional journeys that come with growing up.

The journey is also growing beyond my own books, into creative writing programmes for children: I help children take their ideas from imagination to a finished, published book.

I want Books By Zoya’s Mum to create meaningful stories while giving young writers the confidence to believe their own stories deserve to be told.

Where to buy these rhyming stories for story time

The Books By Zoya’s Mum collection is available from booksbyzoyasmum.com, Amazon and Singapore retailers including The Zall Bookstore, OCBC BookXcess, Junior Page, Sui Store and The Book Bar. Find out more at IG @booksby_zoyasmum and YouTube @BooksByZoyasMum.

This article about character building rhyming stories for kids first appeared in The October 2026 Expat Living magazine. You can buy the latest issue or an annual subscription or read the digital version free now.

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