Who I Am?
A young storyteller with a big imagination!
Hi! My name is Yusuf B. Ilkay, and I’m a 10-year-old author from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.
I started creating stories and drawings when I was only four years old. Since then, I’ve written and illustrated over fifteen short stories, and in October 2025, I proudly published my first children’s picture book — Chubby Cheeks and the Grumpy Neighbor.
I began my education at Calico Public School in Toronto for kindergarten. Later, I attended Unsworth Elementary School in Chilliwack for grades 1 to 4. I’m currently a Grade 5 student at Greendale Community School, also in Chilliwack.
Outside of school, I’m very active and love to learn new things. I play soccer for the Chilliwack FC A2 team in my age group, take piano lessons at the Chilliwack Art Centre, ice skating lessons at the Sardis Sports Complex, and swimming lessons at the Cheam Leisure Centre.
I also enjoy basketball, horseback riding, bike riding, and going on nature adventures with my family. We love exploring new cities and countries whenever we can!
✏️ Why I Wanted to Become a Writer
First of all, I really love reading.
I never like sitting around doing nothing at home.
When I’m not playing with my brothers, you’ll always find me reading a book.
Sometimes I even take it too far — my dad often tells me off for reading at the dinner table because I eat too slowly! 🍽️😂
And when it’s bedtime, he has to come to my room more than once to turn off the light because I just can’t stop reading! 📚✨
I also love writing because it lets me express my thoughts and dreams freely.
Every time I read another author’s amazing story, it opens a new world in my imagination.
One day, I wanted to share my own little world too — so I started writing short stories on my small drawings.
Of course, just like any kid, I always shared them with my mom and dad.
One day my dad told me, “Let’s prepare your story properly. I’ll help you publish your book.”
That moment made me so excited, and I started taking my writing even more seriously. 💛
For me, writing isn’t just about words — it’s a way to share my feelings, dreams, and the beauty I see around me.
Through my stories, I hope to remind other children about kindness, friendship, and empathy. 🌿
My Family
My dad is a businessman who works in international trade, and my mom is a preschool teacher.
I also have three younger brothers — they are 8, 5, and 1 years old.
We live on a 7-acre hobby farm in Greendale, where we care for many different animals.
I love spending time with them — it makes me happy and peaceful.
I also enjoy riding my ATV and dirt bike around the farm!
Writing, playing sports, and spending time in nature are the best ways for me to express myself.
I’m now working on publishing my other stories and hope to make every child who reads them smile — and remember the power of kindness.
📬 Contact Me
Thank you for visiting my website! 💫
If you’d like to share your thoughts about my book, invite me to a reading event, or just say hello — I’d love to hear from you!
You can send me a message using the form below, or contact my parents directly for event requests and book-related questions: