Imagine growing up watching the #SantaClaus parade on television throughout your childhood (and adult years) to one day be sitting down and chillin' with #Santa, talking about my first picture book, Malaika's Costume, and its message, as well as our love of playing musical instruments, languages, and Drama class.  Well that is what happened here.  #Santa was really cool.  And not because he lives in the #NorthPole and likes jazz (although that helps). 

​I was so excited that a #MalaikasCostume float was a part of the 117th The Original Santa Claus Parade this year as part of the #TDGradeOneBookGiveaway.  Irene Luxbacher's gorgeous illustrations were brought to life in 3D.

Interacting with a life-size 3D version of my character is surreal andstill gives me chills and they are true to Irene Luxbacher’s gorgeous  vibrant illustrations.

I really do feel lucky.  I know that this is rare for an author. I thank God for this opportunity and I have been blessed by this experience. 🙏🏾 

The fitting song 🎵 you hear is a cover by the #German🇩🇪/#Trinidadian🇹🇹 group Boney M. of the #Tanzanian🇹🇿 song, #Malaika.  I learned about the song after the book's publication.

When I first named this character, I pronounced her name Malika (mal-EEKA) which means queen in #Swahili but then switched it to Malaika (mal-AY- ka) eventually learning that means angel.

I think both names suit her.  There are even more special connections to this name.

When the late Sheila Barry, former publisher at Groundwood Books, acquired my story, she said she thought it would be big.  She was right.

Her story represents resilience, resourcefulness, creativity, community, and family... and reflects diversity and the immigrant experience. 

I wanted to show which illustrations from the picture book were used to inspire the float.

In these images, you will see Malaika with her grandmother and three of her friends, Malcolm, Marcus, and Ravina.

Perhaps the most frequent comment given to Irene Luxbacher’s illustration in all three books of the Malaika series is how gorgeously colourful 😍 they are depicted.

On my two workshop visit and through consultation with regular photo updates, I had a chance to see and comment the different stages in the construction process.

I'm not a professional illustrator but I've always loved to make art (draw, collage, paint, edit videos). Seeing these 3D images up close was amazing and a result of hard work, consultation, teamwork, and creativity. The sculpts are made from Styrofoam and paper mâché, paint, and cloth.

Thank you, Irene, for your art that inspired such a beautiful float.  Thanks to everyone who made this float happen.

 You can still view the Santa Claus Parade for a limited time at the CTV website here or go my Linktree here.