The Little Regent
Written by Yewande Daniel-Ayoade
Illustrated by Ken Daley
Published by Owl Kids Books
BOOK SYNOPSIS
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!
YEWANDE DANIEL-AYOADE
Yewande Daniel-Ayoade (Yay-wan-day Daniel Ah-yaw-ah-day) is a management consultant and children’s book author. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Ibadan and a master’s in business administration from Emory University. After two decades in various consulting roles, including writing communications for technology projects, she decided to pursue writing professionally and published her first children’s book in 2019.
Yewande immigrated to the United States in 2003 and then to Canada in 2010. Her writing focuses on introducing all children (including her own) to West African history and culture and draws heavily on her immigrant experience.
Yewande lives in Calgary, Alberta with her family. When she is not writing she cooks, bakes, teaches Sunday School, and coaches her kids for spelling bee, debate, and science fair competitions.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Website: www.ydaniel-ayoade.com
Instagram: @ydayoade
Twitter / X: @ydayoade
Facebook: @ydayoade
Email: contact@ydaniel-ayoade.com
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Little Regent (Owlkids, 2024)
What’s the Worst That Could Happen? (Self-Published, 2020)
KEN DALEY
Ken Daley is an award-winning Black Canadian artist/illustrator who was born to parents who emigrated from Dominica. His art and illustrations are inspired by his African-Caribbean heritage, and he has exhibited his work in Canada, the US, and the Caribbean. His artwork can be found in numerous private and public collections. Ken has illustrated 15 children’s books and is currently working on 5 more titles. He has received an Américas Award Honor Book and a Kirkus Best Picture Book for ‘Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings’, awarded Best Illustration for ‘Black Boy, Black Boy’, as well as a Blue Spruce Award nomination for ‘Granny’s Kitchen’. He believes that diverse stories are essential to creating a more just, and equitable world, which he’s deeply committed to manifesting through his art and illustrations.
To learn more about Ken, visit: www.kendaleyart.com and on Instagram: @kendaleyart.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Website: www.kendaleyart.com
Instagram: @kendaleyart
BIBLIOGRAPHY
I Am Cherished – Scholastic Books (2024)
The Little Regent – OwlKids Books (2024)
Back Home – Story Time with my Father – Candlewick Press (2024)
Muhammad Ali Biography – Little Golden Book (2024)
Summer Island – Leap Forward Publication (2023)
Jayden’s Secret Ingredient – Free Spirit Press (2023)
You Come From Greatness – Waterbrook (2023)
Granny’s Kitchen – Feiwel and Friends (2022)
Black Boy, Black Boy – Sourcebooks (2022)
The Legend of the Spirit Serpent – Reycraft (2021)
…and more!
