About
Sheila Ngonzi Hackbarth is an author, artist, and advocate who explores the intersection of the mystical and the mundane. Her award-winning children’s debut, Lion’s Water, offers a whimsical and heartfelt look at resilience, while her adult fiction examines spirituality, race, and the complexities of identity. Through her essays and short stories, Sheila transforms personal experiences and social narratives into powerful stories of endurance and hope.
As a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and The Authors Guild, Sheila is committed to championing diverse voices and creating spaces for meaningful, intergenerational conversation. Whether through her art or her writing, she strives to turn creative sparks into lasting connections, inviting readers to explore both the beauty and the darkness that shape our humanity.
Featured Work
Lion's Water
LION’S WATER
Akiiki wishes she could be courageous like her brother Kisembo. While he plays high atop the sycamore tree, the thought fills her with fear. But when the unexpected happens, and Akiiki and Kisembo find themselves all alone, desperate to locate their family, can Akiiki find a way to be brave?
Featuring the rare and real, tree-climbing lions of Uganda, Lion's Water is a story of resilience and finding our inner strength when we need it most.
WRITTEN BY SHEILA NGONZI HACKBARTH, Lion’s Water is a story of a little girl named Akiiki. She is a worried, fearful child who transforms into a lioness when she faces her fears. She changes back to a little girl by embracing her inner strength and believing in herself. She is entrusted by her parents to protect her little brother after fleeing conflict in her village in rural Uganda. They go days without water, until Akiiki spots a lion’s watering hole and risks her safety to get water for her brother and then for herself. By drinking from it, Akiiki becomes a lion.
The idea for the book was sparked by childhood tales told to her by her late mother, an animated storyteller. Sheila harnessed the rich, cultural essence of her Ugandan roots to evoke curiosity, courage, and compassion in this story. Although conflicts in the world seem far away, they are happening now and every day somewhere around the globe. Diverse characters written by diverse authors addressing sensitive subject matter are rare in the literary world at a time when we yearn to read uplifting books that bring us closer together. Lion’s Water is a contemporary tale yet steeped in heritage that allows children a glimpse into other cultures and circumstances while also being reflective of the universal struggle of self-doubt.
“As a woman of color and a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, I am committed to championing creative endeavors from underrepresented communities. Lion’s Water is my debut Early Reader children’s book complete at 730 words and is a part of this commitment. Further, the educational aspects and opportunity to create lesson plans are abundant and range from geography, zoology, social studies, writing and reading. It also includes a hidden image search which is not only fun but helpful in improving literacy skills. I hope that their story will enchant you, keeping Akiiki and Kisembo in your thoughts beyond the pages of the book.”
