Hi there! I’m Sherriza Hareani Jalil, but you might know me as Sherri Eri, the name I use for my children’s books—easier on the tongue for little readers and their parents.
Why do I write for children?
Because I still remember the magic of the stories I read as a child. I wanted to give kids today that same joy.
I earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in English Language from NUS, but my love for storytelling never faded. I devoured books on creative writing, dreaming of the day I’d write my own stories. Today, as a children’s book author, I bring those dreams to life with stories that make children imagine, laugh, and dream of adventures.
Bringing Stories to Life—For Every Child
Writing picture books is deeply personal for me. As someone who is visually impaired, I know how important it is to make stories inclusive for all children, whether or not they can see the illustrations. My sister helps ensure that every image reflects the words I’ve written, so no child feels left out.
To make my books even more engaging, I use verse, rhythm, and internal rhymes, which also help me during live storytelling sessions. Since I can’t rely on sight to keep up with visuals, I sync my narration to the soundtrack and images behind me using beat and music as cues. Being a children’s book author is more than just writing—it’s about creating an experience.
That’s why music plays a big role in my stories—sometimes my husband and I write songs after the story is done, and other times, a song triggers the idea for the book itself.
In other words, my books aren’t just about text on a page. They’re about giving children a full experience—candy-colored illustrations for sighted kids, rhythmic text for read-aloud fun, and music that makes stories come alive.
