What inspired you to write your book? Where did the idea for your book come from?
Onome Ako: This book was inspired by lived experiences. Mine, my daughter’s and many people around me of being “othered” because of their cultural identities. So seven years ago, when I decided to give my daughter a Nigerian name, I understood that she might face challenges and be “othered” but I saw an opportunity to change the narrative, and to stand for and promote inclusivity and acceptance. Books are a powerful way to do this. They help shape young minds and drive curiosity. For adults, it sparks meaningful conversations that can result in change. So, I wrote I Am Cherished, a book borne out of this necessity.
What inspired you to illustrate the book? Where did you draw inspiration from?
Ken Daley: I was inspired to illustrate the book because I love that Kikelomo is biracial and that she’s proud of her name and cultural backgrounds. I have a niece and nephew who are biracial as well, so I wanted to make sure they get to see themselves in this book and to understand the importance of self-discovery and ask questions about their own identity and cultural backgrounds.
What did you enjoy most about writing? What were some challenges that you faced while writing?
Onome Ako: What I loved most about writing was the evolution of the story; where I started and how I ended to focus on building the character of Kikelomo. This was also the challenge. Narrowing the different directions the story could go and cutting out parts of the story that I was very attached to. But with the support of an incredible editor who guided me through this process, and a super talented illustrator in Ken Daley who brought to life the characters in the book with his vibrant illustrations, the process of writing my first book has been extremely positive and rewarding.
What did you enjoy most about illustrating it? What were some challenges that you faced while illustrating?
Ken Daley: I enjoyed the character development and trying to capture the personality of each person in the story. I had fun including elements that hint to Kikelomo’s cultural heritage as well.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your book?
Onome Ako: I believe that I Am Cherished is a book for everyone. It is more than just a story; it is a message of empowerment, family and self-acceptance. It encourages children to be proud of who they are and to understand the value of their names and identities. It also serves as a reminder to parents and educators about the importance of nurturing a child’s self-esteem and sense of belonging.
I have always believed that names are more than just syllables. They carry the wisdom of generations, and within each syllable lies a story of strength, love, and identity. When you say someone’s name, you’re not just addressing them; you’re acknowledging their history, their essence, and their place in the world. Through the names of my characters, I hope to honour these stories and offer every child who reads I Am Cherished a chance to see themselves and their friends reflected in its pages.
How do you come up with the names for your characters?
Onome Ako: My characters in I Am Cherished are real people. It’s my daughter, my nieces, my nephews, my parents, my community and tribe that my daughter and I interact with. So, I started from there. I chose names that were deeply personal, and that I want to be out there in the world as “normal” names. I thought of what representation would look like for those names. Names you normally would not have on key chains. I wanted to normalize them and bring them to light.
It was also important to me that the names in my book reflected Canadian diversity. While many of the names have Nigerian roots, I wanted to include names that resonate with the broader Canadian mosaic. I envisioned a classroom where children of all backgrounds could see themselves or recognize the names of their friends or family members within the pages of this book.
What books have had the biggest impact on your life? What books were your favourite to read growing up? What books inspired you and your illustrations while growing up?
Onome Ako: Growing up, I was an avid reader of books like Famous Five and Peter and Jane. While I enjoyed these stories, I quickly became aware that I didn’t see myself reflected in them. This realization stayed with me and shaped my perspective on storytelling. Though a lot has changed since then, especially most recently, my goal as an author is to create stories that reflect and mainstream the diverse cultural experiences and identities of all children, ensuring they can see themselves and their lives in the pages they read.
Ken Daley: Some of my favourite books that left an impression on me were written by Judy Blume, such as Blubber and Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing. I also loved the Berenstain Bears and Disney books series. I had a yearly subscription for Highlights magazines growing up, so I enjoyed reading the stories and comic strips and being inspired by the illustrations.
What’s your writing process look like?
Onome Ako: I work full-time as the CEO of an international humanitarian organization, Action Against Hunger, which responds to crises and addresses the root causes of hunger in over 50 countries. I am also a mom to a very active 8-year-old, who is my inspiration for writing this book. This means that my life is very full and my days are often unpredictable because of the intensity of my jobs. Writing has become a meaningful outlet for me. But I do not have the luxury of scheduled writing. I wish I did!
So I write on the go, and sometimes, I mean literally that. I write on the GO train, on my way to and from work; on flights when I am travelling and when I am on field trips visiting projects in various countries. I’d say different environments make my creative juices flow at times. The ideas pop in my head. I scribble in my notebook or on my phone, and then bring it all together.
I test my ideas with my daughter first. And recurrently, the ideas come from her. I refine it, and test again with a wider audience. My parents, my nieces and nephews, a group of friends, and refine it. I feel magic when it comes together.
How do you come up with the characters’ illustrations?
Ken Daley: The author provided photos of her family, so I used them as reference to develop the characters for the story. Kikelomo is the author’s daughter in real life, so I wanted to make sure that I incorporate some of her personality in the character as well.
What’s your illustration process look like?
Ken Daley: I do a lot of sketching to figure out how the characters are going to look, and then go through each page of the story sketching out the scenes to ensure that the book looks and feels cohesive. I work digitally using Photoshop and Procreate so all my sketches and colour illustrations were created using these tools.
What’s next for you?
Onome Ako: I Am Cherished is just the start of Kikelomo’s journey. The story is told from the vantage point of her first day at school. So, this is just the beginning. I’m eager to explore her story further and plan to write more books that delve deeper into her experiences and those of other characters. There’s so much more to tell, and I’m excited for what’s to come.
Ken Daley: I’m working on three new books at the moment and I have a few more exciting projects releasing in 2025, so it’s been quite a busy year!
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Onome Ako Headshot Image Credit: Mercedes Benz Portraits
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