Oh my gosh, you guys, I have SO many favourite books!! I read ALL the time. My mum says I read too much but I don't think that's even possible. I want to tell you about the ones I love the most — the ones that made me feel things I didn't even have words for before.
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o
This one!! THIS ONE!! Okay so Sulwe is a girl who has really dark skin and she wishes she was lighter because people say mean things. And I won't spoil it but basically she goes on this magical journey and it just — okay I cried. I actually cried. I don't cry at books usually! But when I finished it I just felt so warm inside. I've read it like four times now. If you haven't read it, please read it. Please.
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
This is about a dad learning how to do his daughter's hair because her mum is sick. And it's SO sweet. My dad is terrible at doing hair — honestly terrible — so I showed him this book as a hint. He still hasn't figured out my puffs properly but we're working on it! The illustrations are SO beautiful. Every page looks like a painting.
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
This one is about a Korean girl who moves to America and some kids make fun of her name so she thinks about picking an American name. But then — I LOVED this part — her classmates make a jar full of name suggestions for her, but in the end she keeps her real name. It made me think about MY name and how I love it. Olamide means "my honour has arrived." How cool is that?!
Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Oh this book is so special. Julián sees mermaids on the subway and he LOVES them and wants to be one. And I love it because it's just about being yourself even when you're not sure if people will understand. The colours are gorgeous. It's one of those books that makes you feel brave after.
I Am Enough by Grace Byers
Every page is basically a poem saying "I am enough, I am worthy, I am me." I say some of these lines when I'm feeling a bit rubbish about myself. My teacher has this book in our classroom and sometimes she reads it to us and everyone gets quiet in a good way. You know? That kind of quiet where everyone is thinking.
I think the best books are the ones where you see yourself and feel less alone. These five do that for me every single time. If you have a favourite diverse book I haven't mentioned, please tell me!! I'm always looking for new ones. Books are my absolute favourite thing in the whole world. Well. Books and my Pocketlings doll. But that's it.