Jamie Oliver gives thumbs up to children’s book written by Maroubra mum

WHEN celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was pictured smiling with a copy of her book in his hands, Sydney author Alla Novochenok-Serhan couldn’t believe her eyes.

Chef Jamie Oliver ... Novochenok-Serhan became an ambassador for Oliver’s Food Revolution program in Australia. Picture: Getty

WHEN celebrity chef and healthy eating campaigner Jamie Oliver was pictured smiling with a copy of her book in his hands, Maroubra’s Alla Novochenok-Serhan couldn’t believe her eyes.

With two young sons and a house littered with their superhero toys, Novochenok-Serhan had been inspired the year before to write a children’s book about a vegie superhero titled Harry And SuperYam.

“I started making up the character in my head to encourage kids to eat more fruit and vegetables and created stories for my boys, and acted them out when I was making their meals,” she said.

“They really responded to it ... my husband thought I was crazy but as a parent you just do whatever works.”

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver with a copy of Novochenok-Serhan's first book. Picture: supplied

Illustrations from Novochenok-Serhan’s second book, Molly and SuperYam. Picture: supplied

Novochenok-Serhan became an ambassador for Oliver’s Food Revolution program in Australia and gave a copy of the SuperYam book to a friend visiting Ireland whose father had done work at the chef’s home.

While studying to become a health coach, Novochenok-Serhan decided to write her second book, Molly And SuperYam, this time aimed at getting children to eat a healthy breakfast.

“I have done a lot of volunteering work with the South Eastern Sydney Local Area Health Service and have met a lot of people where the concern over eating a wholesome breakfast is paramount,” she said.

SuperYam with Coleen Carey from Kinder Haven Kensington, Hayden Greenberg dressed as Super Yam Junior, author Alla Novochenok-Serhan and her son Zack Serhan. Picture: John Appleyard

Novochenok-Serhan launched the tale at Kinder Haven Kensington, which is working to set kids on the right path with an organic garden and worm farm.

“It was great to see their little faces light up when SuperYam came in,” she said.