A dedicated mum was so concerned about the lack of diversity in children’s books that she wrote her own as a gift for her two-year-old daughter.
Vese Aghoghovbia Wolu was inspired to write her first kids book Who Do I See in The Mirror? by her daughter Philly.
The 31-year-old wanted her little girl to see herself refelected when she was reading, something that she never had growing up.
‘A lot of the books we read as children did not feature black or African children. I did not see myself represented in the classic children’s books or the media I consumed,’ Vese tells Metro.co.uk.
‘It left a lot of children with the subconscious idea that black is second class.
‘When I had my daughter two years ago, I realised we had made very little progress. There weren’t many quality children’s books that featured a black or minority ethnic main character.’
In 2017, less than 1% of children’s books in the UK featured a BAME main character. That is what Vese is hoping to change.
‘I didn’t want her to grow up with the same experience I had,’ she says. ‘I wanted to create a diverse children’s character she and kids everywhere can love and identify with.
‘One who is brave, confident and happy, goes on adventures, as curious as George, laughs from within and loves wholeheartedly with tight hugs and lots of kisses.’
Vese says this is more important than simply seeing a character who looks like you, she says it feeds in to a child’s sense of self-worth.
‘She deserves to know that she matters,’ explains Vese.
‘Children like her deserve to know they are important. Children around the world deserve to see the world for the richness and diversity that it offers.’
When Vese presented the book to Philly, she was delighted and could barely contain her excitement.
‘She kept pointing at the pages of the book with a massive smile on her face,’ says Vese. ‘I have videos of her acting out different scenes without any prompting. It made my heart melt, watching her take in and instantly replicate what she saw.
‘She’s also such a daddy’s girl; she loves the scene with the dad tickling Philly.
‘I felt it was important to highlight the father-daughter relationship, which is so vital in the development of confidence in children, particularly little girls.’
The key message of Who Do I See in the Mirror? is self-love and acceptance. It encourages children to love each part of their body while reminding them that they are so much more than their physical appearance.
‘The book concludes with a strong message that it’s what is on the inside that counts,’ explains Vese.
‘As Philly looks at her reflection in the mirror, she realises that from her curly hair to her legs that love to dance, she is unique.
‘But what makes her truly special is her good heart and curious mind. The important message conveyed is for children to love the skin they are in. It’s what you are on the inside that matters most.’
Vese wants to use her work to give back. She says that her mission is to empower literacy in disadvantaged communities.
For every book sold, Vese sponsors the shipment of a book into the hands of an underprivileged child through a partnership with Books2Africa.
‘We must do right by the next generation,’ says Vese. ‘Our children need to see themselves and others represented in the books they read, toys they play with and the media they consume.
‘Representation is everything; it shows our kids that they matter. You believe what you see, and you become what you believe.’
‘I truly believe that diverse books aren’t just for kids from minority ethnics; they are for everyone. They teach love, tolerance and acceptance; they make the world a better place.’
Vese is now working on a children’s non-fiction biography called Remarkable African Women: 40 Brave African Women.
The book introduces the untold stories of 40 inspirational women from different African countries, including Asli Hassan Abade; the first female military pilot in Africa and Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti; a women’s rights activist and first Nigerian woman to drive a car.
‘I had a negative experience during my A-levels in Bristol. I was walking home from school in and had some kids laughing and chanting behind me. I got home to find they spat me, my winter jacket was covered in spit,’ explains Vese.
‘Looking back, I can’t help but think, if we told “our stories! and these kids understood who we are, they might have been a tad bit nicer.
‘I hope through this book, children around the world will grow up understanding that we are all the same, human at the core. Underneath the skin is a heart and soul that desires to be loved and accepted.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/25/mum-writes-diverse-childrens-books-daughter-can-read-little-girls-look-like-10980959/
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