Nigerian author Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie is making waves in the world of children’s literature by addressing a major gap in representation. In a profile of author recently published in The Guardian, Faloughi-Ekezie, reflects on how her daughter Simone, who has Down’s syndrome, inspired her to write her first book, Ugo and Sim Sim: What is Down Syndrome?.

Initially, she printed just two copies to help explain to her son, Ugo, why his sister was receiving special attention from therapists. Ugo and Sim Sim has since grown into a five-book series, with Faloughi-Ekezie selling 5,000 copies and eventually signing with Ouida Books, a prominent Nigerian publisher. According to The Guardian, her work is a pioneering effort to bring visibility to African children with special needs in a country where such topics are often taboo.

“African children with special needs have very few entertainment or learning resources which have them represented in characters,” says Faloughi-Ekezie. Her series aims to change that by offering stories that resonate with Nigerian children, especially those with disabilities.

Faloughi-Ekezie’s work has been supported by Lola Shoneyin, a Nigerian poet and founder of Ouida Books. Shoneyin is leading a one-year program, Book Storm, to train writers, illustrators, and editors in revolutionizing Nigeria’s children’s book industry. “A broken children’s publishing industry needs an injection of talent and training,” Shoneyin says. “We aim to disrupt the narrative about the non-availability of children’s books in Nigeria.”

Before becoming a children’s author, Faloughi-Ekezie worked in television production but put her career on hold when Simone was born with Down’s syndrome and a heart condition. According to The Guardian, the experience of caring for her daughter during those early years, often traveling for medical care, pushed Faloughi-Ekezie to use writing as an outlet and a tool for raising awareness.

Check out the books here!