Tiana Akoh-Arrey is a truly remarkable 9-year-old. Like one in five children in the U.S, she was bullied, often ridiculed for her hair texture. Turning a negative experience into a triumph, she decided to turn to her love of writing to put her story on paper.

The books that I loved when I was growing up – The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe and the Adventure Series – didn’t have any characters that looked like me or lived a life I did,” she said.

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Encourages to children to reach for the stars, winner of the overall Waterstones children’s book of the year prize, and the illustrated book category in 2020. It’s crucial to reflect the reality of the diverse society we live in for the sake of our future generation; their stories matter. Representation matters.” Dorothy, Tiana’s mother, read the narrative and was so moved by it that she decided to send Tiana’s writing to Conscious Dreams Publishing. Then, Tiana’s tale was released, making her a novelist at 7. I am really proud of myself, and it has confirmed the assurance my mom gave me that bullying is never about me but the bully trying to express their dissatisfaction in seeing someone different and trying to make others feel small,” the young author shares. “I am happy I have managed to not feel small but also helped other girls have the courage of wearing their Afro hair in all shapes and styles without feeling embarrassed about their hair or caring what people say. I feel like I have been empowered and also empowered others.” I am happy I have managed to not feel small but also helped other girls have the courage of wearing their Afro hair in all shapes and styles without feeling embarrassed about their hair or caring what people say. I feel like I have been empowered and also empowered others.”

Enomwoyi Damali, an educational psychologist and author who lives in Lewisham, south London, spoke to PA about the importance of having diverse characters in children’s books. A powerful book to help children and adults have meaningful discussions about race and anti-racism. Most importantly, the book empowers children to be the best versions of themselves; to have self-love, self-esteem and self-worth, irrespective of their skin colour. For children aged four and above. I thought, I love mentoring and literature, so why not merge the two together and then Conscious Dreams Publishing was born,” Ms Blechner said of the 2016 launch. Daniella Blechner, 42, from West Norwood, South London, the founder of Conscious Dreams Publishing, said she started the project as a "labour of love" while working full-time as a teacher by connecting writers to editors, typesetters and illustrators, and mentoring them through the process of publishing.The talented author has enjoyed reading and writing since she was very young. At just four-years old, she began writing full sentences. She was only six when she decided to write about her hair. The resulting story was an inspirational tale championing diversity, love and inclusion. It wasn’t something I consciously planned to do, but it was through realising that so many people were not being heard, having their voices diluted or having their stories told in a way that wasn’t authentic, that I decided to create a platform for these unheard stories and voices.” In It’s Time for a Voyage, JoJo and Gran Gran visit an exhibition to learn about the time Gran Gran moved from Saint Lucia to England when she was a little girl. Lots of people have donated special objects and photos for the exhibition, including Gran Gran who donates her precious little duffle coat, her only memento from that time. But as JoJo and Gran Gran explore the exhibition, Gran Gran makes some extra-special discoveries of her own. Although I felt a little bit dejected, I believed in the messages in my books and but then I heard about Danni and Conscious Dreams Publishing through the launch of another published author, and I found somebody who also believed in my stories, and that was the beginning of a long, successful partnership, which is destined to continue with the publication of three more Nzingha books.”