Bahaa, Early Childhood Studies class of ’21, wrote “The Peaceful Orange Blossoms,” and has two upcoming kids’ books
Inspired by her Lebanese roots and passion for working with children, University of Guelph-Humber Early Childhood Studies (ECS) alum Bahaa Zouki (class of 2021) authored a children’s book this year called “The Peaceful Orange Blossoms” – and she has two more books set to be released in 2025.
“As an early childhood educator, reading a book is the key to starting something, to ignite children’s curiosity…books are inspiring,” said Bahaa, who also works as an early childhood educator for the London District Catholic School Board and for London, Ont.-based Fanshawe Collage as a Faculty Advisor overseeing student placements.
The book is a love letter to her beloved motherland of Lebanon, as the orange blossoms’ sweet scent remind her of home and of the time she spent with her grandfather in his garden while growing up. Major themes of the book include familial bonds, connecting to nature, and using your imagination. Also, most of the illustrations from the book are based on real pictures from her hometown, Ras-Maska in the north of Lebanon, and her grandparents’ house.
Her next two kids’ books, “The Proud Olive Tree” and “The Friendly Cedar Branch,” are also inspired by her personal memories growing up in Lebanon. There, she picked olives from her grandfather’s olive trees with her sisters as a child, which is a fond memory she holds dear. As for cedar trees, they’re a symbol of resilience for Lebanon as they always stay green, and one is also depicted on the country’s flag.
Growing up in Lebanon, Bahaa was exposed to the magic of reading; her father owned a bookstore and wrote poetry, which established her passion for books from a young age. As an adult, writing a children’s book was a goal she set, but with the hustle and bustle of life – raising children, attending Guelph-Humber as a mature student, working – there seemed to be little time to get started.
Moreover, she said she started writing at a time in her life when everything seemed to come together, creating the perfect opportunity to challenge herself in a new way. It felt like the right moment to turn those thoughts and experiences into stories. Bahaa embraced the chance to begin this exciting journey as a writer – when she wrote “The Peaceful Orange Blossoms.”
She also developed her characters: Bobo and Bobo’s grandfather, who are a direct reflection of herself and her grandfather. The adventures of Bobo and her grandfather in Bahaa's homeland of Lebanon are the main plot points in all three of her books, reflecting diverse perspectives in children’s literature.
Wanting to share her experience and story more widely, she approached the STRIVE organization in London, Ont., to add “The Peaceful Orange Blossoms” to their Culturally Responsible Book Bundle. This initiative strives to curate groups of books that represent diversity and the lived experiences of authors from various cultures. The bundles available in childcare centres throughout the London-Middlesex area.
“It’s a great opportunity that they’ll be shared in different locations that children from diverse backgrounds and different cultures will be able to see the book and connect to that because that’s what books are all about,” Bahaa said.
Achieving your dreams can happen at any age when you set your mind to it. Her goal of attaining a university education (at the University of Guelph-Humber) occurred when her own children were in university. Being able to achieve this feat gave her the confidence to never stop dreaming and become an author.
“I’ve always been a big dreamer,” she said. “If you want to accomplish something, you have to keep dreaming it. And you keep dreaming, then you make it into a goal, and then you put things in place, and you do it.”
To learn more about Bahaa Zouki’s work, click here.