‘You Will Always Be in My Heart’ by Arlene Nikita Mensah and beautifully Illustrated by Mauro Lirussi is a story about big life changes through a young person’s eyes. Cookie’s Mum and Dad get married and Cookie and her mum move from Trinidad to England so that they can all live as a family. This is the first of many changes for Cookie and each time she remains strong with the help of her faith.
This book has a light hand while dealing with a lot of sensitive subjects, from moving to a new country to divorce and abuse. Throughout the emphasis is on keeping faith and hope, with quotes from the International Children’s Bible at the start of each chapter. I felt that this was a well structured and well-written book, with lovely illustrations. I think that this would be an interesting read for any child going through significant upheaval, but I would echo the advice in the Author’s Foreword and use this book as an opportunity to start a conversation with a parent or relative about what’s happening in the story and any feelings brought up by the narrative.
A sensitive, autobiographical tale about change, loss and separation, told through the eyes of a young girl with the powerful message that no matter how you're separated from a loved one, they’ll always be in your heart.
Cookie and Mum have joined Dad in England. It's different to Trinidad, but they're together as a family. Home life is everything Cookie was hoping for. But one day things become different. Her parents start arguing and Cookie wants to keep Mum and Dad happy despite being caught in the middle. There are more and more fights and ultimately the family separates. Life changes, but Cookie learns that Dad will always be in her heart.
Author, Arlene Nikita Mensah was born in North London to Trinidadian and Ghanian parents. Education was important for her family. Hours were spent learning the time and multiplications, which often ended in tears. Numbers weren't her strength, but she had a love for reading and art.
Arlene now lives in the West Midlands. One of her favourite hobbies is travelling. It was on a visit to a Ghanaian orphanage in 2018 where she met her beloved husband Enoch. Arlene and Enoch share a heart for Jesus and those in need.
In December 2020, the Lord guided Arlene to start His Promise Children's Books. The publishing house creates faith-based books for families of all backgrounds to share the gospel and salvation of Christ.
