The Little Regent - by Yewande Daniel-Ayoade (Hardcover)

About the Book

"THE LITTLE REGENT begins with a short blurb, offering context on the Yoruba tradition of regency: "Among the Yoruba tribe of West Africa, when a king dies without a son, his daughter will rule until the kingmakers choose a new king. These female rulers are called regents." The story begins when Abioye is declared the temporary ruler of her West African village following her father the king's death, much to the chagrin of the village chiefs. At first Abioye is afraid--she is only seven after all and has no idea how to rule. But her mother reminds her of her father's wise words: "those who will rule must first learn to serve." The next day, the little regent abandons her stuffy meetings with the chiefs--where she feels that she isn't serving anyone at all--and wanders about the village, taking in the problems of her people and trying to understand how she might serve them. In the meantime, the chiefs complain that Abioye is a bad ruler who skips her meetings and walks about the village like a commoner. The time comes for the villagers to vote for a new king, but they refuse. With Abioye's help, the village has flourished: the fishers catch more fish, the cooks have clean water, and the children have a place to play while their parents go to the big market. Abioye has proven that she understands what it means to serve her people, and her people demand to keep her. For the first time in the village, a female regent becomes king. This is an empowering princess story that breaks away from Eurocentric tropes and sends the message to all children--regardless of gender--that their voices and actions are valuable and powerful. THE LITTLE REGENT touches on themes of service in leadership, gaining respect rather than demanding it, and gender equality. Yewande sets the tone with a hint of folklore and fable-esque nostalgia and builds a lively and immersive setting with details of West African culture that speak to her own Nigerian heritage. It also ends with a significant message that honouring the legacy of our loved ones for the betterment of ourselves and those around us sometimes means breaking with tradition."--

Book Synopsis

A little girl is tasked with ruling her West African village in this empowering story about breaking from tradition and leading with your heart

After the king of a West African village dies, his eight-year-old daughter Abioye is made the temporary ruler, or regent, until a new king is chosen. The chiefs scoff at this decision--a little girl can't be regent! Even Abioye herself doubts whether she's up to the task. But her late father's words of wisdom comfort and guide her: Those who will rule must first learn to serve.

The next day, amid meetings about taxes and titles, Abioye keeps her eyes and ears open for ways to serve her people. When she hears about their dried-up well, their leaky boats, and their hungry children, she decides to devote herself to helping the villagers instead of attending stuffy meetings with the chiefs. With her ideas and support, the village flourishes. But as the villagers praise her leadership, the chiefs complain that she is abandoning her duties, and announce that it's time for a new king. When the time comes for the villagers to vote for their new ruler, they reject all the other candidates and crown Abioye instead, making her the first female king the village has ever had!

Author Yewande Daniel-Ayoade draws on Yoruba traditions and culture to craft a highly original, uplifting feminist fable. Abioye's journey will inspire readers, regardless of age or gender, to discover their inner strength, wisdom, and capacity to lead.

Review Quotes

"A subtly radical education on service and leadership."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"An excellent educational tool for teaching children about cultural diversity, leadership, and gender roles."

-- "Canadian Review of Materials"

"The drama is compelling - kids will really root for Abioye and will be thrilled by the idea that a kid could be king. The delightful artwork does a nice job of showing the dynamic setting of the Yoruba village, with colorful fabrics and majestic structures."

-- "Youth Services Book Review"

"Yewande Daniel-Ayoade delivers a beautiful tale on the importance of learning to trust oneself... The Little Regent speaks to the importance of leading through compassion and understanding, and learning to value tradition while making space for necessary change."

-- "Quill & Quire"