Have you ever met a clown who teaches you how to save a turtle, protect a tree, or laugh your way through climate change? If you haven’t, you’re about to!
Meet Aleeyah Amanda Ali, the real-life creator of Redzi the Trini Clown with plenty of Tobago Flava, and the author of 30 new children’s books made right here in Trinidad and Tobago!
Ali has been making children laugh and learn for more than 30 years. She has led puppet shows, storytelling workshops, and animal rescue missions all over the country. But during the pandemic, when schools closed and shows stopped, she turned to something else: writing.
“I missed being with children so much. Writing helped me cope with the sadness, the silence, and even the grief of losing my dad,” she says. “Even during my cancer diagnosis, creating these stories gave me strength. They were my escape, my joy, my way of healing.”
Ali didn’t just write any books. She created an entire series inspired by real animals she rescued, the local forests she protects, and the indigenous wisdom passed down through her family.
• Little Tales from the Warao World–For toddlers and early readers: Real animals like Willie the Manicou and Ishta the Parrot share gentle stories about kindness, nature, and community.
• Clowning Around with Climate Change–For older kids: Redzi teaches kids about oil spills, floods, coral reefs, and more—all with fun, colour, and hope.
• Warao Tales of the Agouti–Inspired by sacred forest animals in Indigenous stories, featuring Tico, Tonka, and Chiquita.
• The Adventures of Maximus and Miah–Based on Aleeyah’s real dachshunds! Funny and heartwarming tales for dog lovers.
• Redzi’s Indigenous Alphabet Book–A learning tool that celebrates Indigenous languages and local culture.
“Every book is linked to the land, the culture, and real-life animal friends,” Ali says. “And everyone is made with love.”
Ali said the “end game” was about more than just stories.
It’s about: Helping kids love their planet, protecting endangered animals, keeping indigenous culture alive, and making learning fun for ALL children.
“I want to show that our stories matter,” she says. “Redzi was born here. She belongs to the children of this country. This is their legacy, too.”
If you’ve ever laughed at a puppet show, planted a tree, or told a story that made someone smile, then you’ve already done something Redzi would be proud of.
Ali’s books remind us that every child can be a hero. All it takes is a little courage, a big heart, and a whole lot of imagination.
Mary Cuffy is an educator and local children’s author. Ms Cuffy is the author of the Ladybug book series. Ms Cuffy believes the best investment we can make in children is in the early years. Email: mary.cuffy@yahoo.com • IG: marycuffy • FB: mary cuffy/Lola and the Dancing Ladybug
