Sirens, a new children’s book in English and Amharic, was published in October 2021 and is available in shops and crafts fairs around Addis. The story is about a little girl and her dog and is set in modern-day Addis Ababa. When a puppy is rescued from the streets of Addis Ababa, she thinks she has it made, but the security of her new world is threatened when her elderly neighbor falls ill and is taken to the hospital. Readers will get to know more about Ethiopian foods, language, and cultural values. The story also promotes kind treatment of animals.
Since publishing the book, Ms. Rae has visited several local schools to do readings with students from age two through nine. She enjoys talking to children about the book as well as how to treat animals humanely. Ms. Rae moved to Ethiopia in 2019 with her family. Her two children wanted to adopt a dog as soon as they arrived, so she made contact with Simona Grava, who runs the Addis Animal Project. Ms. Grava and other volunteers coordinate a network that finds animals forever homes. When Ms. Rae and her children met a small white and brown dog who had been rescued from the street, they fell in love.
They noticed that the dog had a funny habit of howling along with ambulances when they drove by. This habit of the dog’s was the beginning of the story. As Covid worked its way through the city and the ambulances blaring their sirens multiplied, the scope of the book expanded. Ms. Rae explores themes of community, adoption, survival, and what it means to be a family in this story for children ages five to eight.
Another catalyst for the book was a series of paintings about street dogs at Tomoca in Serbet by local artist Lejkidus Bezzawork. Ms. Rae was taken with these paintings and would often visit the coffee shop to admire them. Through Instagram, she was made contact with the artist, who agreed to work on the project. His lively, endearing mixed-media illustrations make the urban zing of contemporary Addis life come alive.
Sirens is for children ages 4-10. In English and Amharic.
Full-color illustrations by local artist Lejkidus Bezzawork.
Translation by Alula Kibrom.
10% of the proceeds go to the Addis Animal Project.
For sale @ The Food Boutique, The Blue Hen and Chic Shega in Sarbet;
Make Your Mark in Torhiloch;
Zoma Museum and Ari Rang II in Old Airport.
Best Western Hotel near Edna Mall.
Zen Apartments and Ayalem Stationary in Kazanchis.
Bio:
Tej Rae is a freelance writer and former English teacher based in Addis Ababa.
You can read more of her work at http://tejrae.com