Writing with Juliet Iwelunmor

Like many, I never intended to write children books, never even planned for my writing to be one day published as a book or for children. By the time my oldest child was in 4th grade, a brilliant little girl, who suddenly didn’t want to go to school one day, the necessity of my words became clear.

We live in the Midwest region of the U.S. and like some, our children are often surrounded by many who will never know the meaning of their names or why they start their day saying Ututu Oma, every morning.

Two years ago and from an experience with my daughter, my first book, Bright Star was written. I have since discovered that children love to see themselves in books, especially books which help them see themselves in a deeper way. Stars may be far away in the skies above, but what if they made it possible for any child to see themselves, to reveal what places and spaces may hide, to redefine or even reimagine the stars within themselves.

As an author, I thought the apex of writing was to get something published. What has actually happened, with telling every child I meet about the stars in them is so much more superior. I write books, children’s books for diversity and inclusion for two reasons: first to help children see themselves, redefine, or reimagine who they are, or what then can be. Second, so every child and invariably, the adults who read my books, can say words that connect us all to each other; words like “Bright Star.” What would my daughter say about this? Knowing her, she would probably narrate the story of her becoming. 

Culturally diverse children’s books matter, whether from lived experience or to simply help children see themselves. You can pick a copy of Bright Star here.