Description
It’s Kikelomo’s first day of school and she is excited! But when it’s time to share in her classroom circle, Kikelomo is surprised and saddened when other children make fun of her name. When Kikelomo comes home that night, her mother and father remind her how carefully they chose her name and that it means “a child who is cherished” in Yoruba, the language of her mother’s family. It prompts her to think about all the times she feels cherished and who she is, held inside her loving family.
When Kikelomo returns to school the next day, she can’t wait to share why calling her by her name is important, and how everyone can pronounce it if they try. With this simple act, her classmates — and teacher! — are all inspired to learn and share the stories of their names too.
Joyful, powerful and infused with love, this proudly affirming story will resonate with every child who needs to stand up for their big, beautiful name, and encourage kids and grownups from all backgrounds to think about their own unique connection to their name.
Author Bio
ONOME AKO is the CEO of Action Against Hunger Canada, a global humanitarian and development organization that combats hunger and its underlying causes. She has been named to the 2020 Canadian Women in Global Health list and received the 2021 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award. In 2022, she was honored as a Hero for Children by World Vision Canada and received their prestigious Voice for Children Award. In 2023 she received the prestigious RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award for her impact in Social Change. Onome is a board member of early childhood initiative Nigeria. Onome was born in Nigeria and lives in Toronto with her family.
KEN DALEY is an award-winning artist/illustrator who lives in Tillsonburg, Ontario. His art and illustrations are inspired by his African-Caribbean heritage, and he has exhibited his work in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. Ken has illustrated numerous children's books including Joseph’s Big Ride, Jayden’s Impossible Garden, A Feast for Joseph, Black Boy, Black Boy, The Little Regent, and more, as well as received an Américas Award Honor Book and a Kirkus Best Picture Book for Auntie Luce's Talking Paintings.
To learn more about Ken, visit: https://www.kendaleyart.com.
