Fergus girl’s book encourages kids to achieve their dreams

FERGUS – Charis Alabi wants to encourage other kids to ask themselves what they can do to make a change in the world.

So at seven years old, she gathered up some pieces of paper, stapled them together and started writing the first draft of a motivational picture book. 

In a World Where You Can Be Anything, What Would You Be? is inspired by a message on Alabi’s Grade 1 agenda, she said: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

This message resonated deeply with Alabi, now 9, who thought about how far that kindness could extend: including kindness to classmates, to animals and to the Earth. 

That kindness can be as simple as throwing trash where it belongs instead of on the ground, she said. But sometimes kindness requires bravery, like standing up when others do something that’s not right. 

“I was not always this brave and confident,” Alabi told the Advertiser at the Fergus library. 

“I’ve had a lot of bullying and racist comments. I’ve experienced a lot, but that’s okay. It’s about overcoming that and not holding it as a grudge onto your heart.

“I’ve moved past it and continue on living my life.” 

Alabi, who was born in Nigeria, said the book is  causing positive change at her school.

“People read the book once and got braver,” she said. “Now, they’re standing up to people who aren’t doing right.”   

Alabi wants her book to help kids see “it’s okay to be a different race (and) it’s okay to be a girl, too.” 

And the book is inspiring classmates at J.D. Hogarth Public School to write books of their own, she noted. 

When Alabi first held her book in her hands she said it was exciting because she “never expected it to come to life.” 

Seeing her book in print confirmed for Alabi: “I can do anything I want to do if I just put my mind to it.”  

It had been tucked away in a drawer for some while, and Alabi had moved on to her next project – a chapter book about princesses of three kingdoms: Emerald, Ruby and Cloud. 

But her parents, Dr. Michael Alabi and Dr. Funmilola Alabi, pulled it out and supported her through the self-publishing process.  

Michael said he and Funmilola both love education – he has a PHD in engineering and she a PHD in animal science. And Funmilola cultivated his daughter’s love of books by reading to her every night, he added. 

Michael stressed the importance of noticing children’s strengths and encouraging them to embrace them, “so they chose the right path early in life.”

And he said they will teach Alabi about investing by helping her put her earnings from the book into stocks. 

Alabi flipped through the colourful pages of the book, outlining why she chose to include the different messages inside. 

It begins with a question, Alabi said, to encourage self reflection. 

“The world is waiting for the best version of you – so always try your best,” she said.  

The next page “shows that we are all special – no matter what race you are. It doesn’t matter how you look; it’s how you treat the people around you that matters,” she said.

The book also touches on the importance of nutrition,  as “you need to be able to stay strong and healthy to achieve your dreams,” Alabi said. 

And it highlights the importance of learning from mistakes (instead of giving up), staying curious and attentive, caring for animals, having fun and staying active, and trying new things. 

“Go ahead and give [that new thing] a try,” Alabi encouraged. “I get kind of anxious sometimes doing new things,” she said, such as learning to draw, but she’s learned that with time and practice things come more easily. 

Alabi has been reading her book to students in Grades 1 through 4 at J.D. Hogarth and is set to read to kindergarten to Grade 4 students at Elora Public School on March 25. 

Alabi received certificates of recognition from Wellington-Halton Hills North MP Michael Chong and Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Joseph Racinsky for her book.  

She’s grateful to everyone who has supported her book, including the politicians, her parents and “the locals in Centre Wellington.” 

The book is available at local libraries and book stores, including Magic Pebble Books and Cordial Clove Books in Elora and Booklore in Orangeville, as well as online. It’s aimed at those aged four to nine.

Alabi is still working on her novel, writing a page every Friday and Saturday, she said. Asked if she plans to publish that one too, Alabi said: “it’s going to take a while, but I hope so.” 

But being an author isn’t Alabi’s end goal. She hopes to one day become a doctor, so she can help people and get to know her patients.