My Afro: Twin Best Friends

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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. 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. Tiana’s mother, Dorothy, was so moved by her daughter's literary work, that she submitted it to Conscious Dreams Publishing, who in turn, made Tiana a published author, at the age of seven.

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. 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.” Tia and Aaoki are best friends. They love to dress and style their hair the same, but Tia's afro hair can be unruly and sometimes hurts to style and manage. When an outbreak of headlice invades the school, Tia is left in a panic. Will Tia lose her precious 'fro? Will her mum be able to give Tia the same hairstyle as her twin best friend Aaoki for 'picture day'? Tiana has now published three children's books, and is hoping to publish three more - one of which she was inspired to write after the death of her father, Cornelius Yearwood, aged 78.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.

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.” Despite being “surprised at first” that her book was published, because of her age, Tiana said she wanted other young girls to find the courage to “follow their passion”. Tiana Akoh-Arrey from south-east London, wrote her first book at the age of seven, called My Afro: Twin Best Friends. 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 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. 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. 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. Daniella Blechner, 42, from West Norwood, south London, the founder of Conscious Dreams Publishing Credit: PA 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.”