Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! Today’s interview is with Kobina Commeh about his debut picture book, and I think you’re really going to enjoy the look behind the scenes that he gives us. This is a great interview to learn about how collaboration can lead to inspired and creative back matter. And don’t forget to scroll all the way to the bottom of the post so you don’t miss the giveaway! (Update: the giveaway is now closed) Let’s dive in!
Book: Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim
Author: Kobina Commeh
Illustrator: Bárbara Quintino
Publisher / Year: Barefoot Books, 2025
Genre: Fiction
Topics: Swimming, Ghanaian Culture, West African Legends, Black History
Blurb: Kwesi doesn’t know how to swim… and discovers his grandmother doesn’t either! Can they conquer their fear of water together with the help of the West African legend Mami Wata?
Book Word Count: 1,118 words
What is your back matter word count?
Approximately 500 words
At what phase of the drafting/revising/publishing process did you decide your book needed back matter?
I submitted the original manuscript for Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim with the glossary of names that people may not be familiar with. This included everything in the finished book. The addition was including the rest of the day names and not just ones of the characters in the book. Autumn Allen, the Senior Editor at Barefoot Books, recommended the complete list of day names.
Did you do any research for the back matter?
Yes! As I was learning how to swim at 40 years old, I realized that many Black and African American people did not know how to swim and so I delved into the history. I also brushed up on my knowledge of the meaning of Ghanaian day names. It was a total shock that my name, Kobina, was associated with the Ocean! What a happy coincidence. I did not want to use my own name as the character in the book. I chose Kwesi because it rhymes with “sea” and is also my father’s Ghanaian name.
Tell us about the back matter revision process. Why did changes occur? What changes and revisions came about after working with the editor?
It changed with the addition of the map, Adinkra symbols, and swim safety note. There was also the decision to have a separate section for the Ghanaian day names. Most of the changes occurred with the editor. The phonetics of the day names required a lot of work and tweaking.
Did you collaborate with the illustrator on the inclusion of Adinkra symbols in the illustrations and/or the note in the back matter to tell readers to hunt for them in the book?
Yes! The Adinkra symbols are integral as a way wisdom is passed down for generations. I sent a list to the illustrator (Bárbara) and she did a great job including them in the book. The idea to hunt for them in the back matter was from the Barefoot Books team.
Is there anything that you wanted to include in the back matter but didn’t make the cut?
There was no more room for the Fufu and peanut soup recipe. I’m glad to keep my mom’s family secret for now.
What was the most challenging part of process of the back matter publishing process?
Being creative with the material. I love how it turned out. The inclusion of the map and extensive day names enhances the experience of the story.
What do you hope readers will take away after reading your back matter content?
It’s actually what’s not in the back matter that I’m most proud of. We wanted to keep the bulk of the information about Black people’s swimming history being affected by segregation accessible to the child reader and in the main text. Typically, this is in the back matter. This took away from the back matter but allowed for extra information like the Adinkra symbol hunt.
I hope that readers learn, from the back matter, that names have special meanings that can have special outcomes. I was also moved by Bárbara being influenced by the story as she was illustrating it.
I hope that readers see my Author’s Note and read that it is never too late to learn a new skill. The best influences in your life can come in the most unexpected of packages, à la my daughters.
What tips can you offer picture book writers for writing back matter?
Include information that will enhance the reader’s experience. It’s also a good opportunity for the reader to get to know the author and illustrator.
Thank you, Kobina! It’s so interesting to see how your back matter came together as a result of collaboration between you, the illustrator, and the rest of your publishing team. And hopefully we can get that Fufu and peanut soup recipe in a future book!
Please support Kobina:
Kobina’s website: Kobinacommeh.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobinacommeh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kobina.commeh
Twitter/X: https://x.com/kobinawrites
Now for the giveaway! Kobina has generously offered to give a SIGNED COPY OF KWESI AND NANA RUBY LEARN TO SWIM to one lucky winner!
To enter: leave one comment on this blog post by March 7, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. For additional entries, leave a comment on my (Judy’s) BlueSky and/or Instagram posts about this post for a maximum of 2 bonus entries. (Remember to check back on this blog post and social media to see if you are selected as a winner!)
Update: the giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Yan-Yin Choy, you are the winner!
Thank you for reading!
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Judy Campbell-Smith 
Thank you for sharing! I keep putting off adding back matter to one of my stories. This gave me the push I needed to get it done.
Hello, Judy and Kobina thanks for sharing about the backmatter. This is so informative. Kwesi is such a cool name rhyming with sea. Glad you were able to include Adinkra symblo hunt, map, and Ghananian day names. The iluustrator did such a great work with art and visuals. Wish you good luck and hopefully we get to find out that secret recipie in another book.
Names in their meanings and pronunciations are so important. It’s great to learn more about the journey of the back matter. As someone who was afraid to learn how to swim I am intrigued by the story. I’m excited to learn how Kwesi and Nana Ruby overcome their fears together.
Congrats Yan-Yin, you are the winner of the giveaway! Please reach out so we can get you your prize!