Couple launch ‘Animuonyam and the Queer Man’
In an bid to address issues related to child abuse and exploitation, authors Kobina Ansah and his wife, Elorm Ansah, have unveiled the latest addition to their children’s book series titled, Animuonyam and the Queer Man.
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This second edition of the Animuonyam series continues the adventures of Animuonyam, a young and curious child who exhibits courage in identifying and reporting an incident of inappropriate behaviour, ultimately leading to the arrest of the wrongdoer.
Throwing light on the book, Mr Ansah indicated that the word ‘queer’ in the title means ‘odd’, which is the original meaning of the word and not to be confused with the gender-diverse community.
During the event held at the Bethel Baptist Church in Dansoman, Accra, last week, Mr Ansah emphasised the importance of empowering children to fearlessly report personal or external incidents of sexual, physical or emotional abuse to a close family member or appropriate governmental agencies.
“I think the era of the Ghanaian society and parents shying away from such topics with children should be revised, as it is important that we create conducive environments that encourage openness, confidence and honesty from children,” he stated.
Speaking on their inspiration for the book, the Ansahs revealed that the book was inspired and named after their two-year-old son.
The first edition, Animuonyam the Bully Stopper, which was released in August last year, addressed bullying in school.
They went on to say that the illustrations of the books were thoughtfully crafted by artist Noah Marcus Agyemang, who skillfully captured the emotions and experiences of the characters.
An attendee, Miss Mary Mensah, who was happy about the book said it was a good direction in diversifying children’s literature in Ghana by offering stories that reflect the realities of our society.
“I believe the powerful messages and beautifully crafted narrative in the book has the potential to make a lasting impact on young minds, fostering a generation that can defend themselves,” she added.
The Ansahs said local schools and libraries have already shown interest in incorporating the book into their reading programmes.
Mr Ansah added that, it was an ideal read for children aged seven and above.
“It is currently available in online and physical bookstores of Booknook and City Read and at a wholesale price of GH¢ 70,” Mr Ansah said.