This dissertation, and the supporting examples of creative writing, focuses on illustrated literature for children both in Ethiopia and in the Diaspora. The three illustrated stories, one without words aimed at young children in Ethiopia and two aimed at older children in the Diaspora, were developed over the period of the research and have undergone numerous drafts as the author identified issues relating to the context of writing for an Ethiopian audience as well as the problems faced in trying to get a children' s book published in the U.K. and Ethiopia. A brief critical analysis of the history of Ethiopian children's literature was followed up by a study of oral storytelling in Ethiopia and its impact on books for children. The author also explored the influences on illustrators of Ethiopian children's literature and on their book illustrations. The methodology included using practice as research and took account of post-colonial discourse and ethnology in an attempt to ascertain whether anyone, not born in Ethiopia or of Ethiopian descent, should write or illustrate books about Ethiopia for children from that country. By the end of this research the author had identified niche markets to target and strategies that writers and illustrators, whether Ethiopian or non-Ethiopian, should follow to produce good quality materials for Ethiopian children.