My Afro: Twin Best Friends

Product Information

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. Tiana has always had a passion for writing and reading. When she first began writing complete sentences, she was just 4 years old. She also considered writing about it when she was only six years old and experienced bullying because of her hair. One day at school, a kid made fun of my afro and said that it made me look like a lion,” Tiana revealed in an interview with Good Morning America. One day at school, a kid made fun of my Afro and said that it made me look like a lion,” Tiana recounts. “That made me really sad, so I asked my mom to straighten my hair to look like my other friends who did not have an Afro. She explained to me that I should learn to be proud and accept my hair as it is because it's beautiful. I was trying my hand at writing short stories, so I decided to write about my hair.”

I’ve had a lot of comments on social media and also little girls all around the world have been showing pictures of my book saying that they love it and feel empowered to wear their afro hair to school, so that makes me really happy,” she added. More importantly… love yourself and be accepting of others – we’re all unique.” Enomwoyi Damali said a book should be like a mirror (Enomwoyi Damali/PA) Daniella Blechner said she initially helped aspiring authors as a ‘labour of love’ (Daniella Blechner/PA)

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.” Daniella Blechner, 42, from West Norwood, south London, the founder of Conscious Dreams Publishing Credit: PA 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. And I felt unconsciously as a child that there was something not quite right with that – it didn’t sit well with me, so when it came to writing my books, I was determined to change that.”

We look different. We feel different. We come from different parts of the world. What makes us unique is our difference. Let’s embrace it. Tiana Akoh-Arrey from south-east London, wrote her first book at the age of seven, called My Afro: Twin Best Friends. While we’re waiting for that change to happen, we’re here making our own change, but it is not happening fast enough in mainstream publishing,” she said. A picture book classic, named one of the best culturally diverse picture books in the UK, this is the story of Handa, who's part of the Luo tribe in south-west Kenya.

Recommended For You

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.” Follow your passion and just use your imagination as something that can help you in life because you never know where you can get in life, even if you are a child,” she said.

My Afro: Twin Best Friends has won the hearts of many, especially little girls from all over the world, who have shared photos of themselves with Tiana’s book, along with messages of feeling empowered. Even Tiana’s bully was inspired by the book and wrote her an apology letter. 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. Despite being "surprised at first" that her first book was published because of her age, Tiana now says she wants other young girls to find the courage to "follow their passion".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. 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.” That made me really sad, so I asked my mom to straighten my hair to look like my other friends who did not have an Afro. She explained to me that I should learn to be proud and accept my hair as it is because it’s beautiful. I was trying my hand at writing short stories, so I decided to write about my hair.” Hello, my name is Tiana-Rose and this is my first book. I am seven years old. I love writing, drawing and dancing. At the age of five, I started having writing classes with my mum who edited and guided me through writing short stories. I’d love to publish many more books. Although I love science and think I’ll be a scientist, being an author is my first passion."

With help from the publishing company, the book sold more than 700 copies, which Tiana said “meant a lot to me”, and she has plans to publish more. I’ve had a lot of comments on social media and also little girls all around the world have been showing pictures of my book saying that they love it and feel empowered to wear their afro hair to school, so that makes me really happy,’ she added. 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.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. Tiana Akoh-Arrey, from south-east London, wrote her first book at the age of seven, called My Afro: Twin Best Friends, which was published in December 2021 and is about her and her best friend who had the same type of hair as her, “while everyone else has straight, silky or curly hair”. 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. She added that the “best” comments she has received about her book are from children, with the “best one of all” being from a girl who said Nzingha looked like her. The author has published three children’s books so far, which she was inspired to write after the death of her father, Cornelius Yearwood, aged 78.