My Name Is Blessing

Written by Eric Walters & illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes

Hardcover

$17.95

$16.97

6 - 9

Reading age

Page count

AD630L

Lexile measure

Sep 10, 2013

Publication date

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What's This Book About

Publisher Summary

Based on the life of a real boy, this warm-hearted, beautifully illustrated book tells the story of Baraka, a young Kenyan boy with a physical disability. Baraka and eight cousins live with their grandmother. She gives them boundless love, but there is never enough money or food, and life is hard –love doesn’t feed hungry stomachs or clothe growing bodies, or school keen minds. Baraka is too young, and, with his disability, needs too much, and she is too old. A difficult choice must be made, and grandmother and grandchild set off on a journey to see if there is a place at the orphanage for Baraka. The story begins by looking at Baraka’s physical disability as a misfortune, but ends by looking beyond the disability, to his great heart and spirit, and the blessings he brings.

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The Creatives Behind the Book

Author

Eric Walters

Eric Walters, Member of the Order of Canada, began writing in 1993 as a way to get his fifthgrade students interested in reading and writing. Eric cofounded a children’s program called Creation of Hope that supports orphaned children in the Mbooni district in rural Kenya and is recognized by the Mbooni community as an elder. He spends time each year working with the children and helping to run the organization. For the rest of the year he lives in Guelph, Ontario. For more information, visit www.ericwalters.net.

Illustrator

Eugenie Fernandes

Eugenie Fernandes is one of Canada’s most established children’s author-illustrators, with more than ninety books to her credit. Her paintings for illustrations have been used by UNICEF to create cards and puzzles and by One Hen, Inc. to create award-winning educational websites. Her paintings from the books Earth Magic and One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference are on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, and Earth Magic was short-listed for Canada’s Governor General’s Literary Award for Illustration. Eugenie graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and now lives in Lakehurst, Ontario, where she writes and paints in a studio made of glass.