A little girl is tasked with ruling her West African village in this empowering story about breaking from tradition and leading with your heart. After the king of a West African village dies, his eight-year-old daughter Abioye is made the temporary ruler, or regent, until a new king is chosen. The chiefs scoff at this decision-a little girl can't be regent! Even Abioye herself doubts whether she's up to the task. But her late father's words of wisdom comfort and guide her: Those who will rule must first learn to serve. The next day, amid meetings about taxes and titles, Abioye keeps her eyes and ears open for ways to serve her people. When she hears about their dried-up well, their leaky boats, and their hungry children, she decides to devote herself to helping the villagers instead of attending stuffy meetings with the chiefs. With her ideas and support, the village flourishes. But as the villagers praise her leadership, the chiefs complain that she is abandoning her duties, and announce that it's time for a new king. When the time comes for the villagers to vote for their new ruler, they reject all the other candidates and crown Abioye instead, making her the first female King the village has ever had! Author Yewande Daniel-Ayoade draws on Yoruba traditions and culture to craft a highly original, uplifting feminist fable. Abioye's journey will inspire readers, regardless of age or gender, to discover their inner strength, wisdom, and capacity to lead. AGES: 4 to 8 AUTHOR: Yewande Daniel-Ayoade is a Nigerian-Canadian author whose children's love for princesses inspired her to write this book. When she is not working as a management consultant, Yewande can be found cooking, baking, singing, or playing board games. Yewande lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband and five children. 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 and received an Américas Award Honor Book and a Kirkus Best Picture Book for Auntie Luce's Talking Paintings. SELLING POINTS: . Written by Nigerian-Canadian author Yewande Daniel-Ayoade . Offers a look at the traditions and practices of the Yoruba tribe of West Africa . Features dazzling, immersive illustrations by African-Caribbean artist Ken Daley . A child-centered narrative of leadership, problem-solving, and gender equality . Upends traditional Eurocentric ideas of royalty and folklore . Author's note provides more context on Yoruba culture and the author's connection to the story
