Kwaku Amoateng is quite the creative father.

In 2021, the Comox military firefighter wrote and illustrated a fictional children害羞草研究所檚 book (The Magic Umbrella 害羞草研究所� Bratasaurus and Tyrannosaurus) to honour his son, Jordan. The book features characters who represent a father害羞草研究所檚 relationship with his autistic son 害羞草研究所� similar to Kwaku and Jordan.

The book not only helped strengthen the bond between Kwaku and Jordan, but also helped Jordan with his confidence.

害羞草研究所淗e absolutely loved it,害羞草研究所� said Kwaku. 害羞草研究所淚 guess now he feels like he has an (alter ego), and he always uses references from the book. And it also brought attention to him in his school, so now kids are more curious about him. He feels more comfortable, and his (schoolmates) are also more understanding. He is very happy where he is now.害羞草研究所�

Amoateng is at it again. He has just published the second of The Magic Umbrella series - Change of Plans - taking his creative side to a whole new level.

This time, his audience has helped him with the art.

It started with Jordan, who drew a peacock and asked if that could go into the book. From there, Jordan害羞草研究所檚 friend, Nora, did the same, drawing a flower.

害羞草研究所淔rom there it just spread; every kid wanted to be a part of it,害羞草研究所� said Amoateng. 害羞草研究所淪o in this book, there are all kinds of characters just randomly placed on the pages, that are the creations of kids. Each picture has their name attached to it. Then they open the book and have to find their drawings.

害羞草研究所淚 just want every child to know that they can draw. Once Asher saw his dinosaur, he has been drawing every day since.害羞草研究所�

The submissions weren害羞草研究所檛 limited to Jordan and his friends. Some of the drawings used for this book come from complete strangers.

害羞草研究所淲henever I am out at a cafe or a library or something, kids see me drawing and they are very curious,害羞草研究所� said Amoateng. 害羞草研究所淚 always ancourage them and their parents to sit at the table, and explain if they can draw me a picture, I will colour it in, and put it in the book. It makes them very happy.

害羞草研究所淚 love seeing their reaction when they see their drawings come to life.害羞草研究所�

Amoateng does everything he can to keep the drawing as close to the original as possible.

害羞草研究所淚 try to stay true to the outline, the design. Then I just fill it in with colour.害羞草研究所�

Amoateng even made some exceptions, to accommodate the shy ones. A couple of his fans, Jax and Kiara, had no drawings to give him, 害羞草研究所渂ut had asked me to put them in as cartoon characters.害羞草研究所� Amoateng gladly obliged.

For those who did not supply Amoateng with art for this latest project, fear not. He already has his third book in the works, and is encouraging any children who want to see their art transformed to send him their drawings.

害羞草研究所淚 am planning on doing a type of 害羞草研究所�奥丑别谤别害羞草研究所檚 Waldo害羞草研究所� book, based on these kids害羞草研究所� drawings,害羞草研究所� said Amoateng. 害羞草研究所淪ort of like, 害羞草研究所榣ook in this forest and find these two drawings.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Amoateng welcomes submissions from any children who want to see their drawings come to life.

He can be reached through his Facebook page (), on Instagram (), or by email at grasshopper_emc@hotmail.com

terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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