Mema Daisy and Yewande Akinse join forces to create children’s poetry book

Mema Daisy and Yewande Akinse have joined forces on a children’s poetry book that brings together words, images, and patient craft. Their work on “The rise and fall of rhymes and rhythms” shows how a children’s book can be both thoughtful and gentle, while still speaking about life in a clear way. Yewande spent three years writing the book, and Mema Daisy spent one full year illustrating one hundred poems.

The book is built around simple but powerful ideas. It looks at birth, passing, and the many experiences that shape living. Written in the form of a dizain, it gives young readers a steady rhythm to follow. That structure helps the poems feel musical and easy to remember, while also giving space for deeper reflection. The result is a book that speaks to children without losing meaning.

Mema brings strong creative experience to the project. Her work as both author and illustrator gives her a special eye for stories that are warm, colorful, and child friendly. She has already created several children’s books that have helped her build a clear voice in the field.

Mema Daisy is the Author and Illustrator of the children’s books Find Your Spark, God Made Me Pretty, Little Sister, and Star Girl. She holds an M.A in Film and Media from The New York Film Academy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of Lagos.

Yewande also brings deep experience and a strong literary background. Her poems often carry thought, feeling, and structure, and this new book continues that path in a form that children can enter with ease. Her writing shows care for language and a clear interest in how stories can guide young minds.

Yewande Akinse holds three law degrees. She is a Poet and Author of two collections of poems titled, A tale of being, of green and of ing (2019) and Voices: A collection of poems that tell stories (2016).

Together, the two contributors have created a book that feels balanced and complete. Yewande’s poems give the book its voice, while Mema’s illustrations give it shape and color. In a children’s book, both parts matter deeply. Words can comfort and teach, but pictures can also help children understand what they read. That is why this partnership feels so strong.

The time they spent on the book also says something important. Three years of writing and one year of illustrating one hundred poems is a long process, and it suggests patience and commitment. Books for children are often expected to be quick and light, but this project shows that children’s literature can also be carefully made and deeply considered.

In the end, “The rise and fall of rhymes and rhythms” is more than a collection of poems. It is a shared effort between two creators who understand the value of art for young readers. Mema and Yewande have made a book that is simple in language, rich in feeling, and full of care.