• Age: 3 to 8
• Grade: p to 3

See below for English description.

Je m’appelle Kikelomo, et je suis cherie!

C’est le premier jour d’ecole de Kikelomo et elle est tres impatiente! Mais au moment ou elle dit son prenom a ses camarades de classe, Kikelomo est surprise et attristee de voir les autres enfants se moquer. Ce soir-la, lorsqu’elle rentre a la maison, sa mere et son pere lui rappellent qu’ils ont choisi son prenom avec soin et qu’il signifie « un enfant qui est cheri » en yoruba, la langue maternelle de sa mere.

Lorsqu’elle retourne a l’ecole, le lendemain, elle est impatiente de raconter pourquoi il est important de l’appeler par son prenom et d’expliquer que chacun peut arriver a le prononcer s’il essaie. Ce simple geste incite ses camarades de classe et son enseignant a apprendre et a partager l’histoire de leur prenom.

Joyeuse, puissante et impregnee d’amour, cette histoire d’affirmation de soi trouvera un echo chez tous les enfants qui ont besoin de defendre leur prenom magnifique.

My name is Kikelomo and I am cherished!

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.

Original title: My Name Is Cherished

ONOME AKO est la présidente d’Action contre la faim Canada, une organisation mondiale d’aide humanitaire et de développement qui lutte contre la faim et ses causes sous-jacentes. Elle figure sur la liste des Femmes canadiennes en santé mondiale de 2020 et a reçu le prix Femmes les plus influentes du Canada : un prix Top 100 en 2021. En 2022, elle a été reconnue comme un héros pour les enfants par Vision mondiale Canada et a reçu le prestigieux prix Voice of the Children. Onome est née au Nigeria et a vécu au Royaume-Uni avant de s’installer au Canada. Elle vit à Toronto avec sa famille. Mon nom est Kikelomo est le premier livre d’Onome.

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.

Onome Ako's profile page

KEN DALEY est né à Cambridge, en Ontario, de parents ayant immigré de la Dominique, dans les Antilles. Ken est diplômé honoraire de la Art Centre of Central Technical School et diplômé en technologie architecturale du Humber College de Toronto. Il a exposé ses œuvres au Canada, aux États-Unis et dans les Caraïbes, et son travail figure dans de nombreuses collections privées.

KEN DALEY was born in Cambridge, Ontario to parents who emigrated from Dominica, West Indies. Ken is an honorary graduate from the Art Centre of Central Technical School as well as an architectural technology graduate from Humber College in Toronto. He has exhibited his artwork within Canada, the United States and the Caribbean, and his work can be found in numerous private collections. Ken’s previous books include Joseph’s Big Ride, Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings and Jayden’s Impossible Garden.To learn more about Ken, visit: https://www.kendaleyart.com.

Ken Daley's profile page

• Commended, Sélection Communication-Jeunesse