Back to School: 3 ABC Books that Celebrate Caribbean Children
Photo courtesy of Saud Kamardeen
written by Suhana Rampersad
Back to school season is in full swing and the options for children’s books are growing.
Historically, there has been a lack of children’s books that represent West Indian children. Children are limited in literary options that celebrate West Indian culture from a young age.
Presently more Caribbean authors are publishing literature so kids can explore the Caribbean diaspora. For parents and our youngest readers, I've compiled a list of ABC books that introduce children not only to the alphabet, but to West Indian dialects, vocabulary, culture and history.
[Additional Read: Meet Yolanda T. Marshall: The Caribbean Canadian Mom Whose Creating Caribbean Children’s Books]
Each author featured is a West Indian woman or mother who emphatically encourages representation for Caribbean children in literature. Starting at the ABC level encourage children to associate their Caribbean heritage with academia, breaking stereotypes and stigmas. Check out these all-ages ABC books and add them to your back to school shopping cart!
1. ABC Where are We? The West Indies! by Ayana Francis
Ayana Francis was born in Trinidad and moved to Canada at the age of 10. Inspired by her nephew, she founded Travelling Feet Books and wrote “ABC Where are We? The West Indies!” to highlight travel throughout the West Indies. The story follows two children from Toronto, Caiden and Idris, as they visit and experience islands such as Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and more.
They learn about flying fish in Barbados and Jamaica’s famous Dunn River Falls. They make sand castles in Nassau and eat crab in Oranjestad. The main character, Idris, is inspired by the author’s nephew.
Francis has made it a point to be inclusive of the various Caribbean countries and territories, which is why from A-Z, readers can have a diverse literary experience of the West Indies. By using the alphabet to highlight a vastitude of Caribbean territories, each letter brings a new place to discover, like a stamp on a passport. In this ABC book, A is for Anguila, B is for Barbados and C is for Castries.
“It is written as a travel book because of my love for travelling. Imagination is the first step to exploration. It is important for diverse children to see themselves in books, but also to see themselves among other travellers. I want to cultivate a travelling mind from young! Learn about other cultures. Embrace diversity. My book shows an array of children —from kids with hearing aids to children with a missing tooth to children with vitiligo. It shows children with locs to children with kinky curls. I want children to feel seen and represented .” -Ayana Francis-
2. C is for Carnival by Yolanda T. Marshall
Literary pioneer and Guyanese Canadian author Yolanda T. Marshall has written an array of diverse children’s books that take a deep dive into Caribbean culture. “C is for Carnival” continues this legacy by being the first-ever alphabet book to explore playing Mas in Canada. “Caribana” is Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival which takes place annually in the GTA.
Marshall has translated the festivities into a children’s book that makes it easy for parents to share and children to follow. In “C is for Carnival,” R is for Roti, M is for Mas and E is for Emancipation, celebrating the origins of Carnival.
“I wrote my ABC book in 2016 as an extension of my first children’s book named “Keman’s first Carnival.” The manuscript was accepted by Chalkboard Publishing in 2019 and traditionally published in Canada. I wanted to offer a fun and educational story to highlight Canada’s Caribbean Carnival. Carnival is present in my other book, “Miles Away in the Caribbean” which teaches children about the Caribbean countries who are full members of CARICOM also referred to as the Caribbean community. Writing about the Caribbean diaspora, my Caribbean culture as a Guyanese mother, is my joy! ABC books are very common and our Carnival held in Canada deserves one. I couldn’t think of a better format to play Mas!” -Yolanda T. Marshall-
3.Alphabet Adventure in Trinidad and Tobago by Nikisha Watson
Nikisha Watson is a Trinidadian-born UK resident and founder of the ABCulture Collection, a platform that creates BIPOC children’s books and toys. “Alphabet Adventure in Trinidad and Tobago” was inspired by Watson’s two sons — the story follows Patrick and Joe who come to Trinidad from the UK to explore their mother’s homeland. They learn about Trinidad’s ecological landscape, animals, foods, traditions and pick up Trinidadian vocabulary as they explore the island. In this ABC Book, B is for Bake and Shark, P is for Pan and J is for Jep and Jalebi. Watson has made it her mission to advocate for diversity in children’s literature, and even performs readings at schools and online.
“I believe when children are taught about their heritage and culture from a young age it not only instills that ever important national pride and love of country but also raises their confidence and love for themselves and who they are. My book in particular uses characters from a mix of ethnicities, typical of Trinidad and Tobago. When children see themselves in the pages of the books they read, they are reminded they are important and they matter.” -Nikisha Watson-
The ABCulture Collection also offers a Trinbago Alphabet Chart, Trini Christmas flash cards, a Moko Jumbie puzzle, stickers, coloring books and more.
All three authors have written ABC books in celebration and representation of West Indian culture. These books are fantastic resources for simultaneously teaching children the alphabet as well as West Indian vocabulary and culture. Most importantly, these books teach children that they are seen and faces like theirs can be the heroes and heroines of the story.
