Draw Me Close To You, by Kossim Osseni
Barbara’s Book Review
Draw Me Close To You tells the story of a young, creative African boy named Tunde, who faces hardship and a tragic accident, but ends up finding the love and respect that he so desired from his father in the end. Throughout his childhood, his father, instead of celebrating Tunde’s creativity and artistry, had higher aspirations for him. After an accident leaves Tunde in a coma, his father realizes that what is important is all that makes Tunde the young man that he is.
This is a story of recognizing all that we have that is right in front of us. It’s a reminder that people and things that we love can be changed or taken away in the blink of an eye. It’s a reminder to us all to appreciate the people who are there for us and to celebrate their talents and what it is that makes them special. This is a story of love and acceptance.
I recommend this book for children, ages 7-12. And I highly recommend this book for all parents.
Educator Notes
This book may be useful for…
- discussion of priorities
- discussion of appreciating those we love
- reminder that we all have special talents which should be celebrated and respected
- readers’ theatre
- recognizing conversation structures
- discussion of relationships
- a reminder of the importance of communication
About the Author
Hailing from the beautiful lands of Benin and Nigeria, Kossim Osseni moved to the US, in Salem Massachusetts to be precise, during his mid teenage years. After attending University, and graduating with honors in Economics and Math, Kossim moved to The Big Apple to pursue his dreams and aspirations. He has been studying Voice, Speech and Movement all over the city and has been acting and modeling ever since. He is an avid reader, thinker and writer who loves Politics, Science,Music and Food.
You can reach Kossim at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram: @kossimosseni
About the Illustrator
Diana Torres is a Chicago-based, award-winning animator and illustrator from Colombia. She attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she received an MFA with emphasis on animation. Diana has a wide range of work across both digital and analogue mediums. As well as working on commercial projects, she is currently developing her newest animated short, Their.
Copyright
Copyright 2020, Kossim Osseni. Used with permission.
How to Purchase
Draw Me Close To You is available on Amazon: