Jon StojanFor some, words and sentences are nothing but a record of thoughts, information, or chronological information; for others, they open the door to profound world understanding, self-discovery, and wisdom. For Elizabeth Mbonu, a Nigerian author born in Ottawa, stories are the most impactful outlet for education through entertainment. Inspired by this realization, Elizabeth ventured into the publishing landscape and founded CookieReads, a green-conscious company where she releases captivating and motivational books for kids of all ages.
Elizabeth’s journey with writing began in her formative years in Nigeria, where her family moved shortly after her birth. Growing up around her grandparents – who were storytellers – her infatuation with this creative realm started to blossom. Since childhood, Elizabeth was dedicated to sprinkling positivity into the world; to achieve that goal, she would rewrite the narratives of others, changing the ending to a happy one. When her new stories would make others laugh, cry with happiness, and feel inspired, she realized her innate gift for storytelling.
In 2020, propelled by her love for nature, Elizabeth moved to Kitchener, Ontario. In a country she hadn’t called home in decades, she struggled to find herself again. “I started exploring my higher self, trying to find what my purpose in life was,” shares Elizabeth. “That journey toward self-discovery is what ultimately guided me toward writing more books.” What further propelled her pursuit were frequent messages recognizing Elizabeth’s talent that she received on social media from friends, family, and even strangers.
As a culmination of her life experiences and lessons, Elizabeth established CookieReads, a self-publishing house committed to enriching the lives of children. The name, inspired by cookies and milk – kids’ favorite snack – symbolizes the author’s dedication to feeding minds and sending a subliminal message about mental nourishment.
At CookieReads, motivation, vibrancy, and inspiration are paramount. “When I was a kid, I found most novels dull,” she shares. Driven by a desire to change that landscape, all her books take children on a colorful odyssey through magic, mystery, and humor, where – with a bit of critical thinking and delving into deeper meaning – they unveil an educational moral.
As of 2024, Elizabeth has written and published four titles, starting with Tatiana, a work launched in 2013. Inspired by a documentary about bullying that touched Elizabeth’s heart, she created Tatiana to combat bullying and hatred in schools and instill a sense of confidence and self-worth among readers. Attesting to the book’s impact, Tatiana was transformed into a movie by Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) KIDS.
Ngozi Elizabeth Mbonu, Author of Tatiana
After her first success, Elizabeth published Shine, which is a more spiritual take on Tatiana. That move was inspired by the needs of churches and religious leaders, who asked the author to elevate their teachings with her impactful storytelling. In 2020, she launched Molly the Best Behaved Student, a story inspired by Elizabeth’s ‘Best-behaved Student’ award she won at the age of seven. With Molly, she strives to highlight the importance of kindness, friendliness, and tolerance. In the same year, she released a more humorous take on Molly called Just Like the Birdies. With that story, she captured the beauty and uniqueness of birds, showcasing the liberating impact of being authentic and letting imagination soar to new heights.
Looking into the future, Elizabeth hopes to raise awareness and ignite positivity globally, ultimately championing a world of happiness and freedom. “Just like birds, we should all fly freely. Our vision is to inspire and motivate kids to become their best selves. I want them to understand that they are here for a reason and, collectively, we can achieve a beautiful world,” she shares. “Storytelling holds the power to change the world, and CookieReads was created to harness that power and help parents educate the next generation of successful, inspirational, and – most importantly – happy kids, who are not afraid to be themselves.”