A Fairy in the Family is my book about a black fairy princess who has somehow ended up, not in fairyland, but living with a total normal family. She is an urban fairy inspired by my neighbours in South London. I wanted to create a book with a black girl on the cover for girls to identify with.
New updated cover shows Bekki and Fluffypuff
And my wish came true – The book has traveled the world and kids in London, ireland, America, Jamaica, South Africa, France. Grown ups call the book “a mirror”- girls says “she looks like me”
This is the new 2020 front cover of A Fairy in the Family – this book first came out in 2009 and the new cover shows Bekki looking the part of a black fairy princess.
I will be explaining how I am customizing Barbie dolls to make them into my book characters, Bekki the Fairy and Geeky Mikita. I will be using Chelsea and Skipper to make my characters. I want STEM companies to see the importance of diversity – all my girls are science superstars as well as baby-sitters. STEM does not have to be dull and Bekki have a laugh mixxing science and magic.
We will take a Sharpies to the hair
It is important for children to see themselves in books, toys, TV shows and popular culture. I love what Barbie does to represent as many girls as she can in this multicultural world. Barbie also does her bit to show girls doing science and STEM jobs. My book A Fairy in the Family Again – the School Science Competition is about babysitters doing STEM. Girls of African descent star in the book.
STEM role model Stacie
I have got some Stacie and Skipper dolls and I will be customizing them to make them look like my STEM Lovin’ baby-sitters book characters. I am especially happy with a Stacie doll who is dressed for science. i got her on ebay and she is in Compton now! She left Redondo Beach a few days ago, so the tracking info tells me. She will arrive in ireland to do her bit to represent black girls in STEM.
First Holy Communions in ireland and around the world have been postponed. Can you imagine being eight years old and having to miss the big day out and possibly a party in your honour? My story was written before the crisis and shows a little girl and her chaotic family in Cork dealing with the messy business of the First Holy Communion.
Most people remember their First Holy Communion day warmly. Even in moden times the day has a great significance for families acknowledging their part in a wider community. Here is my nostalgic story about a Cork family caught up in the fun and fuss of dress buying.
Kathleen and the Communion Copter was named after my aunt and godmother, Kathleen, a gracious and generous woman.
Here is a spin-off story about Aine and her chatterbox baby brother
Diverse books are needed as much as ever. Dolls and books have a very important role in REPRESENTATION. Imagine reading a book like “The Sugar Plum Ballerinas ” and then having a ballet doll to act out the scenes! Heaven!! Imaginative play, books and dolls all work together.
I am going to kick off with a post about Farming and Urban Gardening to tie in with the new Sweet Orchard Farm Barbie dolls. I have a FABULOUS global list of Multi-Cultural Farming books that I am linking to. The list is from America so there’s a rich mix of cultures and plants. Barbie dolls are multi-cultural and affordable.
I used to live in London so I want to share the idea of gardening in small spaces and urban settings.
Here come the dolls.
I am showcasing the Sweet Orchard Farm series of dolls, animal and play items. I live in a rural Irish village so I love that Barbie has a tractor as well as a truck.
To pair with Lola Plants a Garden and Green Green I think Chelsea is perfect. Chelsea in Barbie’s little baby sister and she comes with a little yellow chick.
Chelsea on the farm. is she Lola today?
Barbie gets the best accessories but her pals and siblings have some sweet outfits, animals and props too. The brown skinned dolls, apart from Chelsea are adult sized, with one male and two female dolls in jolly coloured wellies. I have linked to US Amazon where possible.
