Cybille St. Aude has a heap of reasons to be proud. She is the author of the kiddie illustrated book Elsie, published as part of One More Book’s Haiti Book Series. The book has plenty of Kreyol words thrown in to help young children absorb the language, and pretty bold illustrations from illustrator Marie-Cecile Charlier.

Born and raised on Long Island, St. Aude is a graduate of the University of Maryland, having filled her brain with all sorts of intellectual goodies from that institution’s African American Studies Department. One hopes that this will be the first of many books to come.

So, you’re actually related to this guy named Magloire St. Aude. I had to do research about him for an article on the site. How cool.

It’s pretty awesome! I hadn’t been informed about the legacy of Magloire until a few years ago and I was immediately inspired. I have a lot of compelling relatives that have made serious impacts on Haitian history, which is really cool. Growing up, I was constantly reminded about my mother’s side of the family—my great uncle is Raymond Cassagnol—and their accomplishments so when I found out about Magloire and another prominent St. Aude, Rene St. Aude of Haitian band Super Jazz des Jeunes—which is my father’s side—I was just excited to be able to trace back some more of my roots. It’s actually a tab bit intimidating but I try not to think too much into it all!

What’s the hardest thing about being a creative person?

Letting go is really hard for me, specifically in terms of writing. There’s a fear associated with creating art that I’m still trying to get under control. In order to do that I have to learn to let go…and it’s really difficult. I make a bigger fuss out of my writing than what is considered healthy and that’s fear slapping me in the face. I’m mostly worried about not putting out good work. I’m sitting on material that I’m just not ready to part with because I’m simply afraid of it. No one wants to suck at anything. Nowadays people are so quick to judge and criticize. They’ve made assumptions about you, your life, your passions and your capabilities before they get through the first paragraph of your work. So being able to to create without shame and being able to tap into all this energy I have is somewhat of a struggle.

The book that you wrote for the One Book series…would you mind discussing how you were hit with the inspiration for it?

I had just returned from a trip to Haiti when I wrote Elsie. My writing experience was very moderated by all the feelings I had while out there. I was volunteering with an organization called the Sanneh Foundation that facilitated soccer workshops and health clinics for kids in Cite Soleil and Delmas. It was my first time traveling to Haiti without being surrounded by family so my trip was unique in the sense that it wasn’t coming from a space of familiarity. It was a new narrative for my travels to Haiti that I was able to transform into a story about some of the people I met along the way. Soccer in Haiti is a pretty big deal, but we didn’t see a lot of young girls participating which was a little upsetting and a major point of inspiration for me to make a young girl the forefront of this particular story.

What can we do to encourage little kids to read more?

I think making literature more of an all encompassing experience might entice children to want to participate more. I’m a purest at heart about certain things but I also acknowledge that kids these days appreciate a more interactive approach to learning and reading, so I think if publishers and companies spent more time and resources on creating a digital platform to co-exist in a way to not destroy the integrity of the longstanding traditions of the print industry then we might be able to find a way to make reading both important, fun and relatable to target audiences. How cool would it be if children could read Elsie the book in school and then go the nearest computer lab to participate interactively by seeing what life in Haiti is like for kids their age, learn some history and do some other fun things, all centered around the story they just read in class! Finding a balance between reality and the digital world could be a huge way to get kids more interested in reading and learning.

Any tips for those who would like to write for the juvenile book market?

I would say that letting your imagination soar and not being afraid to be daring or different could do wonders for your writing and publishing experiences.

Connect With Cybille St. Aude on Twitter | Cybille St. Aude on Instagram | Visit Cybille St. Aude’s Website | Read Her Blog | But Most of All Buy Her Book!

Do you have some little ones in your life who you’d like to give them a sense of what Haitian culture is all about? Or perhaps not necessarily a taste of Haitian culture, but just a few books with Haitian characters and Haitian themes?

Check out these books! They’ll probably do a lot in helping you in your quest.

5. Popo and Fifina by Arna Bontemps and Langston Hughes
Age Group: 6 and up

This book was written in 1931, but several modern day editions have been done since then. It tells the story of two children of Haiti, and has plenty of moral lessons. Popo is an eight year old and Fifina is a ten year old who live with their dad Papa Jean near Cap Haitien, and how they live in dignity, in spite of the fact that Papa Jean’s only income is from fishing and farming.

There’s some really eye-captivating print board illustrations from E. Simms Campbell. One of the most remarkable things about this book is that it was published at the height of the latter days of the Harlem Renaissance by two giants of that movement. Literary historian R. Baird Shuman recounted that Bontemps went on to write another book about Haiti entitled Drums at Dusk, a historical novel. Hughes wrote a play about Haiti four years later entitled Emperor of Haiti.

According to his biographers, Hughes had visited Haiti, and the book’s text is sprinkled with a few Creole phrases here and there. In his book African Americans and Haitians: A Legacy of Tragedy and Hope, Dr. Leon Denius Pamphile sums up the book’s importance this way: “Popo and Fifina contrasts the beauty of the Haitian landscape, its lush flowering trees, and delicious fruit with the plight of Popo and the barefooted peasant farmers who lived in huts.”

Upon publication, the book was immediately praised by critics, and according to Langston Hughes: Folk Dramatist in the Protest Tradition, 1921-1943 by Joseph McLaren it was dramatized by Brunetta Muzzon and adopted in Chicago’s public schools.

4. Anacaona: Golden Flower, 1430 Edwidge Danticat
Age Group: 10 and up

Poet. Warrior. Chief. So many titles, for one woman and her name was Anacaona. This book tells her story from her childhood on, and is part of a series that the publishing company Scholastic launched of princesses of times past. This book will teach your child about the indigenous peoples of Haiti, what their lives were like before and after Christopher Columbus landed in Haiti.

Anacaona is assertive; she’s a compassionate ruler, but she’s no fool. She ruled along with her brother Bohechio, and upon his death, was the sole ruler of Xaragua.

In the book Anacaona is depicted as a pursuer of peace and fair ruler, and reading about her can boost your daughter’s confidence in herself, but it can educate all kids about a woman who lived for her people.

3. Children of Yayoute: Folk Tales of Haiti, Francois Turennes de Pres
Age Group: 7 and up

This book was originally published in the late 1940s by Haitian painter Turennes de Pres, and republished nearly 50 years later. Publisher’s Weekly called Children of Yayoute a “visual treasure” in a glowing review of the book.

There are twelve stories and each of them are traditional tales, unique to Haiti. There is the story of Noemi, a young villager and the talking fish who brings her to live underwater with him.

Actually, this book is a treat—period—just for the gorgeous, eye-captivating illustrations. There is also an extensive glossary in the rear of the book so that you can discuss words unknown to you and your child.

2. Samona and Seth by Joanne Hyppolite
Age Group: 7 and up

I remember the first time I came across this book in the library. I was just overwhelmed to find a book like this….with Haitian characters who were real and a story line that I could identify with. Samona and Seth are kinda friends. He’s the proper-dressing, parental rules-following type of youngin—the type your Haitian parents would tell you would make a good husband in the near future. [In my uncle’s voice] (“Se pa junkie non, hmmm”).

Seth even has one of those types of biblical names that Haitian parents don to their kids, hoping that they’ll be just as pious as the biblical person they’re named after (ahem, you know, Josué, Emmanuel, Maranatha, Nazareth, Bethsaida).

Samona and Seth have that sort of relationship that one hopes will grow into something more in years to come. Where Samona is, Seth is just a few feet away. And in most cases—right behind her.

Samona decides that she’s going to be entering the Little Miss Dorchester pageant. Seth is well-meaning; he is convinced that she won’t get the crown. But Samona is determined to show the entire world what she’s made of.

Seth and Samona won the Marguerite de Angeli prize, an award for excellence in children’s book writing. The book is a great tool to show kids, especially young girls, about self-esteem and determination. The illustration by Colin Brotman are so realistic.

1. The Bonplezi Family, Maude Hertelou
Age Group: 7 and Up

This book is a fictionalized account of the reality of the lives of Haitian immigrants. Through the Bonplezi family, one learns about the dynamics of the family relationships.

The Bonplezis have relatives in the United States, Haiti, and Canada, and yet do their utmost, so that in spite of the distance, they remain close knit.

This book can be used by parents to emphasize family connections, in addition to encourage the love of reading.

It’s over 242 pages and might be looked at as a reading book for advanced readers.

Images: Children of Yayoute book cover via Bliss Design

Got kids? Nephews? Godkids? Little nephews…well, you get my drift. You can use these 50 Children’s books to teach them about Haiti and Haitian culture!

1. My First English-Haitian Creole Illustrated Dictionary
by Anne-Valerie Dorsainvil
(Educavision)
A pictorial dictionary to help elementary-aged children discover Creole, while enhancing their overall vocabulary skills.

2. Where is Lola by Maureen Boyer
Illustrated by Kula Moore
(One Moore Book)
Lola the dog has gone missing. Will she be found?

3. Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation
by Edwidge Danticat
Illustrated by Leslie Staub
(Penguin)
An undocumented mother finds herself separated from her daughter.

4. Haiti My Country: Poems by Haitian School Children
by Roge
(Fifth House Publishers)

5. Josephine’s ‘Magination by Arnold Dobrin
Illustrated by Arnold Dobrin
(Scholastic)

6. Eight Days: A Story of Haiti
by Edwidge Danticat
Illustrated by Alix Delinois
(Orchard Books)

7. Janjak and Freda Go to the Iron Market
by Elizabeth J. Turnbull
Illustrated by Mark Jones
(Light Messages)

8. The Last Mapou
Written by: Edwidge Danticat
Illustrated by: Edouard Duval-Carrié
(One Moore Book)

9. Popo and Fifina
by Langston Hughes and Arna Bontemps
Illustrated by E. Simms Campbell
(Oxford University Press)

10. Mommy Tell Me About Haiti
by Jeanine Agnant
Illustrated by Alexandra Barbot
(Educavision)

At this point, you can continue reading the partial countdown…or you can…Go ahead and watch the FULL VIDEO below to get the COMPLETE LIST:

11. Elsie
by Cybille St. Aude
Illustrated by Marie-Cecile Charlier
(One Moore Book)

12. Mmmmm Soup Joumou
by Carline Smothers
(CreateSpace)

13. I Am Riding
by MJ Fievre
Illustrated by Jean-Pierre Icart
(One Moore Book)

14. Fabiola Can Count
by Katia D. Ulysse
Illustrated by: Kula Moore
(One Moore Book)

15. Night Owl and the Rooster
by Charles Reasoner
(Troll Communications)

16. Haiti: The First Black Republic
by Frantz Derenoncourt, Jr
Illustrated by Eminence System

17. Josias, Hold the Book
by Jennifer Elvgren
Illustrated by Necole Tagdell
(Boyd Mills)

18. A is for Ayiti
by Ibi Zoboi
Illustrated by Joseph Zoboi
(One Moore Book)

19. Dusable: Pirate, Son and City Founder
by Alexandra Barbot and Franz Loibl
(Amazon Digital)

20. Bouki Dances the Kokioko
by Diane Wolkstein
(Harcourt)

21. Janjak The Rooster Who Wouldn’t Wake Up
By KJ Crane
Illustrated by Mondelus Wilgens, Roody J. Michel and Tchilaah Israel
(Educavision)

22. Bobo The Sneaky Dog
by Mireille Lauture, Ph.D
(AuthorHouse)

23. Please Malese: A Trickster Tale from Haiti
by Amy McDonald
Illustrated by Emily Lister

24. Fanmi Mwen, My Family
by Carline Smothers
Illustrated by Fuuju Takashi
(Create Space)

25. Anacaona: Ayiti’s Taino Queen
by Maryse Noel Roumain
(Trafford)

So there you have it folks, 50 Haitian Children’s Books You Can Use To Teach Your Kids About Haiti and Haitian Culture, curated by your favorite chick Kreyolicious!

Did you enjoy reading and viewing this 50 Haitian Children’s Books You Can Use To Teach Your Kids About Haiti and Haitian Culture countdown? CLICK HERE to read more about Haiti-related books, and read author interviews!

Photo Credit: Brainshares