Books by Jamaican-Canadian authors inspire children
Two JamaicanCanadian authors have written new books to inspire children to, in one case, love themselves, and in the other, to believe in the power of faith and prayer. Shakara Andem, who is an early childhood educator and has a passion for writing, has written There Is a God – illustrated by Garrett Mannings — a story that was inspired by events in her life. Cynthia Reyes, a former journalist and executive producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation who wrote her memoirs, Good Home in 2013 and An Honest House in 2016, has now written a children’s book, Myrtle the Purple Turtle, illustrated by Jo Robinson.
Andem’s young mother left her when she was a baby, and for years, she stayed in a children’s home.
As an adult, she built a life for herself here in Canada and has since learnt that her childhood experience was a process. She now has a close relationship with her mother.
These experiences have taught her the importance of trusting God even in times of adversity.
“My inspiration came totally from where God has taken me from and where I am today,” says Andem.
She dedicates the book to her mother, Shirley Phillips, whom she has forgiven and with whom she has reconciled. Andem said that when Phillips read the book for the first time, she cried.
There Is a God is a story about Sasha, a child whose mother couldn’t afford to take care of her as a baby, so she ran away. As a result, Sasha was Cynthia Reyes, author of ‘Myrtle the Purple Turtle’. Shakara Andem, author of ‘There Is a God’.