Stefanie Foster Brown Honors Cabo Verde in New Children’s Book
Stefanie Foster Brown, a Boston College alum from the class of 2004, published a debut picture book that centers Cabo Verdean culture. The book, My Heart Speaks Kriolu, follows a young girl who reconnects with her heritage through senses and music.
Roots and inspiration
Foster Brown is a fourth-generation Cape Verdean American. Her family settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the late 1800s.
Her grandparents were the last generation to speak Kriolu in the family. A legally blind grandfather helped deepen her cultural connection through nonvisual senses.
About the book
My Heart Speaks Kriolu uses sensory detail and music to explore identity. The story introduces Kriolu, the Cape Verdean Creole language spoken across the islands.
Foster Brown wrote the book in part to honor her grandparents after their passing. She aimed to make the tale both culturally specific and broadly accessible.
Writing path
Before publishing, Foster Brown worked as a school psychologist. She regularly used picture books in counseling and noticed a lack of diverse titles.
During the pandemic, she studied picture book craft through classes and devoted time to writing for children.
Recognition and honors
A few months after publication, the book earned an Ezra Jack Keats Award Honor. Foster Brown was one of four honorees recognized for inclusive storytelling.
Community collaborations
Foster Brown connected with fellow Cape Verdean American author Janet Costa Bates, BC ’85. The two have co-hosted readings and a shared “Kriola book tour.”
She also partnered with Michael Cormack Jr., BC ’03, deputy superintendent in Jackson Public Schools, Mississippi. Cormack had worked with the Save The Music Foundation on programs that pair books with music education.
School visits and music integration
Foster Brown visited five elementary schools in the Jackson district. She read aloud and signed 60 copies for each public school library.
Music teachers created original compositions to accompany the story. The book references a Cape Verdean instrument similar to a ukulele.
Impact and future work
The school programs aimed to provide representation for primarily African American students. Educators reported high engagement during readings.
Foster Brown completed a BC service trip to the Cape Verde islands. Seeing her ancestral islands influenced her sense of belonging.
She has four other picture books under contract with publishers. She intends to continue writing from the heart and exploring cultural themes.
Notes on language and audience
Kriolu remains the most widely spoken language of the Republic of Cabo Verde. Foster Brown balanced cultural specificity with universal themes.
Filmogaz.com highlights how Stefanie Foster Brown honors Cabo Verde through a new children’s book that spotlights language and music.
