I have written and am aiming to fund the first hardcover print run of my fourth book, The Primary Colors, a 32-page color picture book for children which explores the power of friendship, acceptance, and prayer, and the beauty of diversity in our world.
Introduction: Access the Beauty of Community, Diversity, Acceptance, and Friendship with The Primary Colors
Hi!
I am Morenike Euba Oyenusi, a lawyer, author, and mommy of three lovely children. I have written and am aiming to fund the illustration, design, and first hardcover print run of my fourth book, The Primary Colors, a picture book for children ages four to eight. My first three multiple award-winning books, Chasing Butterflies in the Sunlight, Isaiah and the Orchestra of Sounds, and The Shepherd's Care, were successfully published between 2020 and 2023. Across the Kickstarter and BackerKit platforms, I have backed 44 campaigns.
In The Primary Colors, Cobalt Blue and his friends, Scarlet Red and Hansa Yellow, live on Primary Close, in a small community of Primary Colors. Everyone is blue, red, or yellow! There are strange rumors of a monster coming to the Primary Color community. When a bizarre family moves in, will Cobalt and his friends accept them? What will they do to fight the monster? Cobalt learns how acceptance and prayer can help his community overcome fear and that diversity enriches our world. Through vibrant characters and a heartwarming story, this book explores the power of friendship, acceptance, prayer, and the beauty of diversity in our world.
Get a sneak peek of The Primary Colors by watching and listening to me read a short excerpt. Click here for the video!
Recently, I had tons of fun being interviewed by Jed Doherty, an award-winning children’s author and educational speaker, on the nationally acclaimed podcast “Reading With Your Kids”. In this third appearance on Jed’s show, I followed in the footsteps of authors like Kate DiCamillo, the international bestselling author of “Because of Winn Dixie”, Candace Cameron Bure, author of “Candace Center Stage” and star of “Fuller House”, and Karyn Parson, author of “How High The Moon” and star of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air! Jed and I enjoyed chatting, among other topics, about The Primary Colors and the simple joys of spending time reading together as a family. Here is the link to the podcast.
The Primary Colors is designed for young readers ages 4-8, making it perfect for children in preschool through mid-elementary school. Parents, teachers, and caregivers looking for meaningful stories that teach important life values like diversity, acceptance, and community will find this book especially valuable. It’s also a great resource for educators and librarians who want to foster conversations about inclusion and kindness in a way that’s engaging and relatable for children. With its vibrant illustrations and heartwarming narrative, the book appeals to both children and adults, offering lessons that resonate across all ages.
We are ecstatic to have received a lovely review by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Adam Wallace of The Primary Colors. Adam is the author of the How to Catch Series and has sold over 10 million books!
“The Primary Colors is a beautiful story of acceptance and faith triumphing over fear and the unknown. It’s an easy to read book that gets the message across with a relatable story. And the pictures are beautiful, done in a style I haven’t seen before, not in a book at least.
The Primary Colors is such a great book to read as a family at home or as a class at school. It will open discussions and bring people together, and when a children’s book does that, it is a winner!”
We are also honored to share a lovely review of The Primary Colors by Deaconess Roli Ede, the CEO of Restorers Haven:
"The book is very pleasant to read considering that the target audience is young children. It is amazing how looking through the eyes of small children, Morenike Euba Oyenusi has used colors to teach several key lessons in one small book: community, diversity, acceptance and togetherness. It is also a lesson to parents that we should be aware of the impact our words and actions have on young minds. Having read The Shepherd’s Care and Chasing Butterflies In The Sunlight, I believe this book is a great read for children as well as adults."
We are so grateful for this beautiful review by Maria J. Greenhalgh, the author of A Turtle's Hero and Beautiful Daughter:
"Inspirational and Educational!
Today’s young readers are the leaders of tomorrow. The importance of providing inspirational and useful books to the little ones cannot be stressed enough. What they read may set a foundation for life. It’s important for humanity that this foundation be one of kindness and deep faith.
Morenike’s wonderful book, The Primary Colors, is the perfect story to read to kids because it both inspires, educates, and adds value to a child’s core foundation. The story is about Cobalt who learned to appreciate and not fear those who are different from himself. A family who seemed “peculiar” to him moved into his neighborhood. Cobalt’s parents immediately forbid him to associate with the new family, particularly the little girl named Light Blush Pink. The heart of the story are the events that lead to a change in attitude for Cobalt and his parents. I love the book which reminds me of the importance of being loving, open minded and accepting of others regardless of our differences.
I recommend purchasing this lovely book for your child’s library and reading it to them often to instill kindness in them."
As part of our objective to share the values of diversity, acceptance, and community, we are excited to partner with organizations that work with children. Through our campaign, backers will have the option to donate copies of The Primary Colors to such organizations.
We are thrilled to announce a collaboration with Restorers Haven, a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing essential support to orphans and underserved communities. Through its incredible work, Restorers Haven offers food, shelter, clothing, literacy programs, and educational materials to children in need—helping to equip them for brighter futures.
In Nigeria, Restorers Haven is actively housing, feeding, and educating orphans, and its mission continues to expand with plans for new housing projects.
Restorers Haven also supports local communities in the United States through food drives and partnerships with other charitable organizations.
As part of our crowdfunding campaign for The Primary Colors, we are excited to offer an opportunity for our supporters to have copies of the book donated on their behalf to Restorers Haven. When you pledge at certain levels, your contribution will help provide the books as educational materials to orphans, advancing their literacy and preparing them for their futures.
Join us in supporting this amazing cause and help make a difference in the lives of children by pledging to back our campaign!
We are currently talking to other potential donees. If you know of any organization that would be interested in receiving donated books, we would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] to explore partnership opportunities.
We are offering a plethora of cool rewards just for our BackerKit supporters. There is a package for everyone and you will be sure to find one that you like!
Our rewards include but are not limited to the following:
Two EARLY BIRD packages —CATCH THE COLOR WAVE and EARLY BLOOM IN FULL COLOR—with access to special pricing and signed books if you pledge within the first 24 hours.
COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES which offers author visits to your classroom or community organization.
COLOR THE WORLD which enables our overseas backers to obtain paperback books with minimized shipping costs.
Opportunities to PAINT WITH PURPOSE or be a FULL SPECTRUM CHAMPION, enabling you to donate books through us to one of our partner organizations and make a colorful difference in the lives of children in need.
An exclusive incentive for certain tiers only: when you are a PRIMARY SUPPORTER pledging over $150 and over $300, and for the BE BOLD, BE COBALT! or SHINE LIKE SCARLET OR HANSA! packages: Get one or two free Primary Colors T-Shirts as worn by Morenike in our project video.
Unique opportunities for the children in your lives to be STARS OF THE BOOK. The characters will be modeled after their likenesses and their names included in the Cast of Characters, if you choose one of our COMMUNITY PALS IN LIVING COLOR, BE BOLD, BE COBALT! or SHINE LIKE SCARLET OR HANSA! packages!
A thrilling opportunity to add on what will be a stunning, limited-edition "Playground Scene" print to your collection—an exclusive 24" x 24" canvas that will capture the essence of Cobalt Blue, Hansa Yellow, Scarlet Red, and their friends in a tender and riveting moment. Beautifully gallery wrapped and finished with a premium protective coating, this ready-to-hang masterpiece will not only be a striking addition to your home, but also a cherished keepsake, especially if you also choose one of our COMMUNITY PALS IN LIVING COLOR, BE BOLD, BE COBALT! or SHINE LIKE SCARLET OR HANSA! packages.
The funds targeted by our goal of $5000 will cover about fifty percent of the publishing costs of an excellent quality hardcover 10"x10" 32-page book, made with the best quality157 gsm paper, section sewn binding, and a beautiful dustcover. The writing of the book and about 1/10 of the illustrations have been completed. Your contribution will partially fund the first hardcover run, which includes the book illustration, design, and printing by a traditional offset printer.
If we exceed our $5,000 goal and reach our first stretch goal of $9,735, we will be able to cover the entirety of our publishing costs. BackerKit charges amount to roughly ten percent of the funds raised. We have some other stretch goals which we hope to implement, if we exceed the first stretch goal and have covered our basic costs, and which we look forward to revealing when the time comes.
We’re inviting you to be part of something special! By pledging to our BackerKit campaign, you’ll help us publish The Primary Colors—a beautifully illustrated picture book that children around the world will enjoy, while learning valuable lessons about diversity, acceptance, kindness, and community.
Why BackerKit? Unlike charity platforms like GoFundMe, BackerKit is a preorder platform that allows you to be among the first to secure your copy of The Primary Colors. When you back the campaign, you’re not just donating—you’re choosing from special "reward tiers" to receive exclusive items, including the book itself. Simply click "Back It," select your pledge level and any add-ons, and follow the easy checkout process.
Here’s the important part: BackerKit operates on an "all or nothing" basis. If we don’t reach our funding goal within 22 days, the project won’t be funded, and no books will be printed. Your card will only be charged if the campaign is successful. That is why we need your support now more than ever!
How You Can Get Involved
Pre-order a copy of the book (or several!) to share with your family and friends or choose any other of the pledge levels.
Donate books which we will send to our partner organizations that work with children.
Support a school or community organization by choosing the COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES package, which includes an author visit.
If you’d prefer, you can also pledge without choosing a reward, knowing your contribution will help make this project possible.
Spread the Word! Not only can you pledge, but you can help by sharing our campaign link with your friends, family, co-workers, and on social media. Every share brings us closer to reaching our goal!
Thank you so much for your support in bringing The Primary Colors to life. We couldn’t do this without you!
1. BackerKit Launch Date: October 25, 2024 Kick-off for the project on BackerKit 2. BackerKit Campaign Ends Date: November 16, 2024 Campaign completion 3. Illustrations and Book Design Completed Date: April 2025 Finalization of illustrations and book layout 4. Files Submitted to Printer in China / EBook Published / Digital Rewards Fulfilled Date: April 2025 Ready for print submission and digital distribution 5. Books Shipped from China Date: June 2025 Books in transit to the USA 6. Books Arrive in the USA Date: August 2025 Books received in the U.S. for processing 7. Orders Fulfilled and Shipped Date: September 2025 Order fulfillment begins for backers 8. Print Books Released in Market Date: September-October 2025 Final product available in the wider market
Morenike Oyenusi is a Nigerian American author, publisher, and lawyer with degrees from the University of London and Jesus College, Cambridge. Passionate about children's fiction, poetry, and being an inspiration to others, in 2020, Morenike founded Paradise Restored Publishing which has published her three award-winning books: Chasing Butterflies in the Sunlight, Isaiah and the Orchestra of Sounds, and The Shepherd’s Care. The imprint has also published Dr. Patricia Aladekoba’s Solace: Empowering Pastor’s Wives to Prevent and Overcome Burnout.
When Morenike isn’t juggling fictional or legal writing, you will probably find her immersed in a good piece of literary fiction, at the theater, watching a movie, jet-setting to new places, hanging out with her children and friends, or discovering new ways to tweak recipes—usually after very long walks that fuel creativity.
Below are the links to connect with Morenike on social media. If you would prefer to email her, her address is [email protected].
Kit Laurence’s fascination with children's book illustrations started when he was a child. The hand painted pictures in books inspired him and he aspired to one day become a children's book illustrator himself. Through practice and self study, he developed his art style and skills. He is so honored and grateful for the support and trust of all the authors he has worked with. He is proud of the books that he has illustrated and he hopes also to inspire children to pursue their dreams of making art.
Arlene Soto is the owner of Intricate Designs. She is an illustrator, book designer, and graphic and web designer based in Denver, CO. Her background is in fine art, and she has been happily working with authors to bring their stories to life through art and design. She aims to focus her portfolio on projects that center on diversity, inclusivity, and anything that sparks curiosity. She is also a homeschooling mom to three girls and, along with her husband, they garden, have two dogs, and a cat to complete their wonderfully busy life. Find out more about her here.
Olamide Oyenusi is a junior at New York University, pursuing a degree in Fashion and Luxury Business. Passionate about combining creativity and business acumen, she aims to drive innovation in the fashion industry, with a focus on diversity and equity. Olamide has gained hands-on experience through roles such as her internship at Altuzarra, where she supported e-commerce and marketing teams, contributing to digital strategy, product management, and content creation. She has also completed the LVMH Inside Program, acquiring insights into luxury, sustainability, and branding. Olamide is committed to using her unique cultural perspective to make a positive impact on the fashion sector, and she is excited to be leveraging her marketing skills to aid in the launch of The Primary Colors.
Oyinade Oyenusi graduated from Princeton University in December with a degree in Psychology and a minor in French. She is currently a Strategy Analyst in Deloitte’s Government and Public Services sector, and she aspires to attend medical school to pursue a career as a trauma surgeon. In her free time, Oyinade enjoys dancing, playing the piano, exploring new restaurants, and traveling.
The Backerkit platform does not collect the shipping cost for your reward at the time of your pledge during the campaign. All shipping costs will be charged separately, and your shipping will be calculated after the campaign when you fill out a survey and provide your address so that the cost of shipping can be accurately calculated based on your location. Of course, there will be no shipping cost for digital rewards.
In order to cut down on shipping costs for our backers in certain overseas countries: Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, and Australia, we are offering a special pledge level - COLOR THE WORLD.Shipping for that pledge level will be calculated at the rate local to the specific country. For all other pledge levels that involve shipping a physical product overseas, shipping will be calculated based on the international rates for shipping from the United States.
We plan to ship all add-ons at the same time as the rest of your order, to minimize packaging and shipping costs. However, if you would really like to receive your add-ons sooner, please feel free to reach out.
Paradise Restored Publishing is an independent small press set up by Morenike Euba Oyenusi in 2020 to publish good works of literature, with a focus on children’s books, and well-written inspirational non-fiction.
The name signifies that a paradisiacal experience can be ours when we read a good book. The name also reflects the concept that we have access to Paradise through our relationship with Jesus, not only when we go to heaven but right here on earth. Paradise is not lost but restored when we give our lives to Christ. The tree of life is represented in our logo by the pink rose apple tree, which grows in Nigeria and produces delicious fruit.
Paradise Restored Publishing has published Morenike's three award-winning books: Chasing Butterflies in the Sunlight, Isaiah and the Orchestra of Sounds, and The Shepherd’s Care, and Dr. Patricia Aladekoba’s Solace: Empowering Pastor’s Wives to Prevent and Overcome Burnout.
