Description
Nemo Meets the Emperor is a vintage 1957 children's book written by Laura Bannon and illustrated by Katherine Evans. Set in Ethiopia, the book follows a young, lively Ethiopian boy named Nemo whose deepest dream is to enter the royal palace and speak directly to the Emperor of Ethiopia (Haile Selassie). [1, 2] When Nemo's mother takes a job as a nursemaid for an American family (the Thomases), Nemo joins her to do odd jobs and deliver messages. His big break arrives during a palace party thrown by the Emperor for foreign children. The American family's young daughter, Miss Abby, wanders off and gets lost on the sprawling palace grounds. Nemo successfully tracks her down and safely leads her right to the Emperor's golden chair, finally getting his chance to fulfill his lifelong dream. [1] Note: Some modern e-commerce descriptions incorrectly describe this book as an "underwater odyssey" about "ocean conservation" (likely confusing the protagonist's name with Disney's Finding Nemo). Historical archives—such as Augusta Baker's bibliographies at the New York Public Library—confirm it is entirely grounded in the highlands of Africa. [1, 2]
