“Spartan and the Green Egg” Makes Kids the Stars

How do you ensure that the books you stock are winners and not wannabes? Start with tales that kids already enjoy — like the ones told by their parents or caregivers. “The stories started with trips to places I had been lucky enough to have visited,” begins Nabila Khashoggi, author of the new Spartan and the Green Egg series. If Khashoggi’s name rings a bell, it may be because she’s the founder of Nabila K, the skin care and home ambiance line; the products have appeared in the goody bags at the Golden Globes and the company got attention from People, Luxe and Vanity Fair.

Khashoggi’s desire for a pure, all-natural lifestyle translates well from her product lines to her stories. And while it also doesn’t hurt to have a storyteller who is also an actress, what creates a compelling book kids go back to is the way characters and tale are woven together. In the Spartan and the Green Egg series, kids have a variety of interesting characters to relate to as well as a touch of the other-worldly.

“I started telling my eldest son, Spartan, stories about a group of friends visiting new places when he was 3 years old,” explains Khashoggi. An understanding of the world’s various cultures and a deep concern for the environment colored the tales. While the team leader of the book series is named after her son, he clearly represents the curiosity and honesty of children in general. Khashoggi’s team worked to develop a book that goes a step beyond storytelling into becoming a lush, illustrated journey. Besides the eye-popping comic book layout with a fast-moving story, families will appreciate the series’ eco-friendly tone.

The debut book in the series, A Trip to the Rainforest, weaves together a compelling story about a circle of friends and environmental concerns. Elements of pure imagination entice young readers: the Green Egg is an alien spaceship that uses power and technology to help friends Spartan (with rescued canine sidekick Grimm), Tor, Katie, and Max on their journey. Each team member brings something to the table. Spartan exhibits strong, dynamic leadership skills, Katie is a creative problem-solver, Tor melds mechanical prowess with charm, and Max brings much-needed order and method.

The multi-cultural team is just one nod to the modern world. It encourages an appreciation for the very different kinds of people throughout the globe. Another is the concern for the endangered parts of our world; in this case, the Amazon rain forest. The team partners with two natives from the Amazon and learns about the complex nature and dangers of the region. As readers are pulled into the story, they become part of the team as it uncovers a mix of interesting facts and adventures that help solidify an appreciation for preserving the rainforest. (Spoiler alert: the team uses the Green Egg’s technology to help prevent the devastation of the rainforest.)

Khashoggi’s overarching purposes in the construction of the series are twofold: to promote an appreciation of the environment and to invoke an understanding of people across a broad band of cultures. Khashoggi contributes part of the proceeds from the Rainforest book to The Children for Peace (ONLUS). The Italian NGO focuses on bringing the “light of hope and success to children” in disadvantaged parts of the globe. “The organization has done so much good for kids in different countries around the world providing help with whatever is needed for survival. It has been a privilege to contribute to their efforts,” Khashoggi notes.

Concern for the world and its people helps kids become winners: www.spartanandthegreenegg.com