Hello there! My name is Semhar. I am Eritrean and the author of Exploring with Selam & Senai. I was inspired by my nieces and nephews to write this book. During quarantine, I realized that while most of my family members spoke Tigrinya, none of my nieces and nephews did. So in an effort to change that, I started a weekly Tigrinya zoom class. I searched for weekly teaching materials to keep them interested and entertained as I taught them the language, culture, and history. To my surprise, they had a deep desire to learn, and that was when I decided to create Exploring with Selam & Senai. I wanted to create something that wasn't available in the market which was a book with a storyline that is both entertaining and educational. Representation matters, therefore, I chose to work with a talented illustrator who can better depict the characters and the culture. I think it is important that the kids can see themselves in the characters. 

 

My hope is that this book will help beginners build their confidence and

inspires them to continue their journey in learning the language. Furthermore, I hope the book is a bonding experience for families and a dialogue starter for the importance of preserving our language, culture, and history. 

 

In my free time, I love spending time with my family, mentoring kids, going to coffee shops, and traveling to African countries. My favorite food is lasagna. And I love mustard yellow, the color of sunshine.