On representation, and unexpected joys

I know I hit you with a tough one for my first Substack newsletter. I received a number of DMs, emails, notes from people who read my note on Grief sharing how much it resonated with them. How they felt seen. Thank you to all who read and shared how it landed with them. ❤️

If there is one thing I learned from reading stories from all over the world as part of my job on Atlas Book Club, it is this - we are more similar than we are different, and at the end of the day we all want to feel seen, heard, and know that we matter.

This—the importance of being seen—could not be more evident than during the book tour for my debut children’s book (Kirkus Starred Review, dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picturebook of 2024, and Read with Jenna Jr. Summer Reading selection Ayeeeee!💃🏿) I’ll See You in Ijebu. As you may know, I’ll See You in Ijebu, based on my childhood growing up in a multi-religious family in Nigeria, is the story of a Catholic girl growing up in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria who takes a trip to spend a week with her Muslim extended family in the countryside town of Ijebu to celebrate Eid al-Adha.

Reading this book to kids in schools, libraries and bookstores has been the most unexpected joy of my debut author experience. Seriously yall, it has been simply DELIGHTFUL. Your kids are a HOOT! 🤣The shy giggles and playful laughs as they practice their street hawking chants, the joy when they share with me what their special names for their grandparents are, and the smiles when they tell me what their mom/dad/grandparents smell like… and when I tell them my mom smells like pancakes! One boy said his mom smells like flowers, another that his mom smells like oreos. Oh the JOY this has brought me. I am so incredibly thankful for it all.

But the one thing I did not expect and could never have predicted, was the response, the elation, the simple joy of it all from the Muslim kids. Oh my heart! ❤️

I was in Concord, MA a few weeks ago where I read this book to a group of kids K-2nd. There was the cutest brown girl who was raising her hand, oh so earnestly and eagerly, from the very beginning even before there was a participation prompt from me. Finally, it was time for audience participation. I walked over to her and gave her the prompt and she said “oh I don’t have an answer to your question but I wanted to tell you that I celebrate Eid too!” she said so excitedly, the end of her words trailing off into an excited squeal! It was the most adorable thing.

Then there are the hands that shot up so enthusiastically when I asked, “who is excited about celebrating Eid in a few weeks?!” And the pride with which the Muslim kids responded “Eid!” when I asked the students what their favorite holiday was. I think it is safe to say that they felt seen in the most normal, regular way.

Representation matters, yall. It matters more than we could ever know. I am so thankful for every person who has advocated to bring me to their school/bookstore/library to share this story. It has really filled me in so many ways, and from the joy on the kids’ faces, it appears to have filled them too. Planning for school visits for the 2024/2025 school year is underway so reach out if you are interested in bringing me to your kid’s school.

As we approach Eid this weekend, while I am looking forward to celebrating with my extended family, I am so incredibly excited to celebrate with my local community on Saturday, June 15 at Barnes & Nobels Annapolis at 1pm. There will be a fun and engaging story time and book signing. This is not a simple read through of the book. We have FUN! I do hope to see you there if you are in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area.

Lastly, the School Library Journal recently shared an article recommending I’ll See You in Ijebu, along with Sami’s Special Gift: An Eid al-Adha Story by M.O Yuksel, as 2 Books About Eid al-Adha to Share With Young Readers. So if you are looking for ways to engage your kids this Eid weekend, these are a good place to start!

I love to hear from you! Please feel free to share your thoughts about the book and the newsletters with me. I have some new writing that I am excited to share with you all next week. Until then, sending you lots of love and positive vibzzzzzz.

In gratitude,

Bunmi