Olu and Greta

Description

The geographical and cultural distance between two cousins is counteracted by the universalities of childhood and the dream of uniting. 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.

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."

"A compelling bicontinental story of kinfolk, uniquely illustrated by an artist who's lived the experience." --Kirkus (STARRED REVIEW) "A salient reminder that love and connection transcend difference and distance." --Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW) "Though they've never met, two cousins - a boy in Lagos and a girl in Milan - celebrate the many things they have in common in this ebullient picture book by the Nigerian Italian illustrator, textile designer and New Yorker cover artist." -- The New York Times "Viewers will get a visual treat and a reminder that they're not alone across cultures." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "[Olu and Greta's] interactions are described in spare, accessible text and pictured in eye-catchingly distinctive digital and pencil illustrations." -- The Horn Book Inc. BEST BOOK (2021) --Kirkus