by Ayo Oyeku

This month Ayo Oyeku reviews some new and upcoming picture books that transport readers around the world, exploring the work of creators from Nigeria, South Africa, Mexico and Kenya.

Wanjikũ, Child of Mine

“Everything smells like ashes. Outside, roosters crow.
Sunlight falls through the cracks in the walls onto the
dirt floors. I don’t want to get out the warm bed but
the smoke makes me cry. When the goats are stirring
and somebody has to let them outside. That’s my job.”

Wanjikũ was born in a part of the world where all colours are brought to life. The floor is earthy brown, the sunlight is golden yellow, the plants are leafy green, and the fabrics are swaddled in African designs. Everything is happening simultaneously, and Wanjikũ is happy being a dutiful grandchild to Cũcũ. She starts going to school barefoot. She begins to learn Western education but does not forget that she is one of the daughters of the first man and woman in our world.

Through the engaging narrative and calm brush strokes, children are taken on a journey across the vibrant landscapes of Kenya. Karen Vermeulen brings the story to life in parts where words are silent. Children will find the illustrations friendly and relatable. The colour gradients are warm, and the attention to detail would make children imagine living in Kenya and wearing African blouses and long wrappers tied to a shoulder. This 32-paged picture book amplifies children’s understanding of diversity, inclusion, culture, language and how bonds are created beyond the four walls of the home.

In a world bubbling with a symphony of identities, there’s a Wanjikũ in every one of us.

Wanjikũ, Child of Mine will be on sale by August, 2024.

A World for Me and You

Can you imagine a world without me and you, where everyone isn’t welcome? Sounds uncool, right? Uju Asika lends her brilliant voice to the issues of diversity and inclusion by asking children (and adults) to imagine the world around us with their eyes open. In this excellent picture, she teaches children to not just look but also to think about it.

“Imagine our world in only one color.
Like the brightest orange
or the most shocking shade of pink!
Can you imagine it?”

The book starts by drawing children into the world of colours. It presents brilliant adjectives for everyday shades that we see as ordinary yet extraordinary. All the shades are beautiful, including the shades of you and me.

“Curvy noses, crinkly eyes;
dimpled cheeks,
square jaws, and pointy chins.
Freckles, moles, and monobrows;
lips that say ooh, mouths that say wow!
Teeny tiny ears like seashells.”

While children are drawn to carefully worded sentences, Jennie Poh draws them further into the pages with carefully crafted illustrations that cut across cultures and identities. The chocolate house is chocolatey, the dining table makes the belly rumble, and the beach experience subtly suggests that just as houses made of sand cannot last, a world without our diversity cannot stand. We need each other because our diversity is our strength.

This nonfiction picture book is an absolute page-turner. While children are encouraged to imagine with their eyes opened, fun facts and essential tips on how to connect peacefully with others are also included. The world is a global village, and books help to improve our understanding of it. This book is one of such.

Giant on the Shore

There’s a giant on the shore. Seagulls surround his footprint like insects, clouds are beneath his shoulders, and this is a colossal giant. From where he stands, he can see the crowded and bustling city. He waits and lingers, wondering what the people’s reaction towards him will be.

Children’s imaginations will be tickled by the narrator of the story. The narrator assumes people would be pleased to meet the giant, old folks would tell him old stories, and children would be delighted to play with him. From a bird’s eye view, the perspective from which the illustrations are depicted, the reader gets the feeling that the giant is still at the shore and imagines these possibilities. The acrylic paintings also give the story an epic feel. We are reading and experiencing a fable at the same time.

Suitable for ages 5-8, this picture book explores children’s emotions as they battle fear, self-doubt, new experiences, and risk-taking. When our thoughts feel so small, the author reminds us that these thoughts are giants within us, capable of being embraced by many and making a positive difference. Children must permit themselves to make giant strides on the sands of time.

This book is a unique way to teach children to believe in themselves.

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