CROW FROM THE SHADOW – Olaolu Ogunyemi – Reject Self-Criticism!

A heartening story about fighting back against pessimism.

By Olaolu Ogunyemi ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2021

Crow, a bird who often wears a hoodie to hide his features, is connected to “The Shadow” – a person, place, or thing that tells him who to be, how to go, and where to stay. The Shadow insists that Crow should not wear blue, his favorite color, and that he should fail in school and not read books. This oppressive force sucks the joy out of Crow’s life until he eventually questions why he should listen to The Shadow. In the end, Crow is liberated and finds success and even a spouse. In this debut picture book from a pair of siblings, Olaolu Ogunyemi conveys the idea of rejecting destructive self-criticism. Joshua Ogunyemi’s illustrations depict the concepts in a cartoon style, with bright colors when Crow is happy and dimmer hues when The Shadow is in control. While the marriage plot point is a bit abrupt, the inspiring message of the story is clear.

Pub Date: June 25, 2021
ISBN: 9781737492702

Page Count: 34
Publisher: Self

Review Posted Online: June 30, 2023