The story celebrates the unbreakable love between a parent and child
Dr. Elena Merenda, Acting Chair of the Early Childhood Studies program at the University of Guelph-Humber, wants anyone who reads her children’s book called I Wonder to know that being yourself is more than enough.
Dr. Merenda’s 2020 children’s book I Wonder – a story about childhood, growing older, and the deep love between a parent and child – has recently been announced as a recipient of an International Impact Book Award. The awards’ conference and gala serve as a platform to celebrate authors and provide networking and educational opportunities about earning media exposure and selling books. But for Dr. Merenda, the true reward is the example she sets for her children that mirrors the book’s messaging: to listen to their hearts, to enjoy the journey of chasing their dreams, to take risks, to be authentic, and to take pride in their accomplishments.
“When I think about the messaging that I want kids to hear from the book, I think about my own inner child and what she is needing to hear,” Dr. Merenda said, adding that above parents being proud of their kids, it’s more important that children feel proud of themselves. “[Kids] don’t have to be perfect and they can be unapologetically themselves.”
And in the moment that she found out her book was honoured with an award, she modelled those lessons from the book for her daughters. At the time, she was swimming in the pool with her family when she received the email with the good news. Initially, Dr. Merenda hesitated to share her accomplishment, feeling mixed emotions; she was unsure if she wanted to be passive about the news or allow herself to fully embrace pride.
“I realized I preach pride to my kids, but I wasn’t allowing myself to be proud. And that’s because all my inner child knows is caring for others and putting their emotions before mine,” she said.
Dr. Merenda continued, “Something I work really hard on as a mom with my kids is pride. When they accomplish something big or small, I will ask them, ‘Are you proud of yourselves?’ before I even share my own pride in them. This is because I want their successes to be about themselves and not about me or others. We often do things to make others proud, especially kids, they want to make their parents proud, which I illustrate in the book.”
So, she made the decision to deliver the news to her family with pride and joy.
Moreover, the idea for this award-winning book came to Dr. Merenda during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was reflecting on how lockdowns were impacting children. This led her down a “rabbit hole of wondering” about what her children were thinking during this volatile time, and as she continued to consider this, she realized parents wonder all the time, too.
“One night, I went to bed with these wonders in my head on repeat and woke up with the words to the book spilling from my fingertips. In a day and a half, the text was written and formatted, ready for illustrations,” Dr. Merenda said of her inspiration.
Being the author of a children’s book is an experience she also brings into the classroom in the U of GH Early Childhood Studies program. Writing a children’s book has deepened Dr. Merenda’s understanding of the way storytelling has the power to shape development and connection among children, and help them understand the complex world they’re growing up in. She is currently writing her second children’s book, I Wish, which will tackle emotional topics using language that resonates with kids.
“I bring that same approach to my students: helping them see the power of voice, empathy, and creativity in their work with young children,” Dr. Merenda said.
She also learned that storytelling can be a powerful tool in leadership, which has influenced the way she guides the Early Childhood Studies program. She draws on similar skills she leverages as a writer to help shape the Guelph-Humber student experience: listening carefully, leading with heart, and holding space for vulnerability and reflection.
“Ultimately, both roles – author and educator – are about believing in the capacity of children and the professionals who support them,” Dr. Merenda said.
Congratulations to Dr. Merenda for this achievement.
To learn more about the Early Childhood Studies program, click here.
