PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Diana Ejaita is the author and artist. Her Black figures and textured hand-lettering inspired bold design. Her fearless use of black allowed us to keep the text simple, and have a black jacket with a map case.

Diana Ejaita works as an illustrator and textile designer in Berlin. What sets her illustrations apart is a combination of dramatically contrasting areas of black and white with soft patterns and textures that create images that portray the strength of femininity. Born in Cremona, Italy, her aesthetic pays homage to her lineage. "I am mostly into Central African culture; I love its literature, arts and textile traditions. But as a child of migration and of interracial parents, I am very driven by the issues of colonial/post-colonial effects, racial and gender discrimination, and identity research." Residence: Berlin, Germany Hometown: Cremona, Italy

This book was created by Rise x Penguin Workshop. Rise’s mission is to engage, empower, and evolve the youngest readers (ages 0-5) with authentic, relevant, and elegant books.

Olu lives in Lagos, Nigeria; his cousin, Greta, lives in Milan, Italy. Though their lives may be different, their ways of living and playing are quite similar. They both roller skate; they both skip down the street; they both play with toy trains, trucks, and boats... and they both dream of meeting and being together. Debut author-illustrator Diana Ejaita references her own childhood and heritage to create a rich, poignant, and authentic portrayal of Nigeria, of Italy, and of the unity of childhood.

BOOK INFORMATION

Trim Size: 9.5 x 10.5 inches

Number of Pages: 32

Binding Method:

Paper: Text pages were printed in 4-color on 140gsm woodfree paper. Jacket was printed in 4 color on 140gsm woodfree paper

Typefaces: The text is set in Futura Infant. The jacket was hand-lettered.

CREDIT INFORMATION

Creative Director: Daniel Moreton

Art Director: Maria Elias

Book Designer: Maria Elias

Jacket/Cover Designer: Maria Elias

Illustrator: Diana Ejaita

Photographer:

Picture Editor:

Production Director: Araselly Rodriguez

Production Coordinator:

Production Artist:

Other Credits: Cecily Kaiser - Associate Publisher, Early Childhood

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