Page 20 - Urban Kapital Magazine Autumn 21

CARROL MAY NELSON

DETERMINED TO BALANCE THE REPRESENTATION OF

CHILDREN OF COLOUR IN BOOKS

Carrol Nelson is a Children’s book author who confidence. They meet Martin Luther King who
is determined to balance the representation of was a great activist and one of the greatest
children of colour in books. We had the pleasure influencers in the world, they meet Nelson
of interviewing Carrol to find out more about the Mandela, and we have ‘hidden figures’ that
inspiration behind the series. encourage children to explore science, they meet
Mary Seacole – my own background is in nursing
Her first book Dolly May and the Magical but growing up I didn’t know about her.
Enchanted Garden was published in 2019.
Carrol’s inspiration came from her own Many children are not taught
childhood, growing up in the ‘Windrush about these people in schools”.
generation’.
Carrol refers to a recent report by the centre of
Carrol was left in Jamaica when her parents learning for primary education, that highlights
emigrated to the UK. She was raised by her the lack of representation in books for children
grandmother and was encouraged to read and of colour. They are not represented as main
write, something Carrol said continued when she characters in books. She says that this book
eventually moved to the UK as a young teenager. aims to educate not just children, but teachers
and parents to realise the richness of our litera-
After a difficult time in her life, Carrol was ture and that children are missing out (because
inspired to explore her passion for writing and of this).
she wrote several titles that she never published.
Carrol adds:
But in 2015 she was introduced to a publish-
er who showed her how to develop her writing “Research shows that when children see them-
and in Carrol’s words; “Something magical hap- selves represented in picture books it makes
pened” and the Dolly May series was created. them feel valuable and part of society. I want
to encourage children to dream big and know
“Research shows that when children see they can do anything. I want to teach them that
themselves represented in picture books our people have been great contributors and
it makes them feel valuable and part of our ancestors have done some great things in
society. I want to encourage children to the world, but there’s no value placed on that to
dream big and know they can do anything”. make us wake up feeling good about ourselves.
So, this is what my first book is about, adding
Carrol says: value to education and enriching children’s lit-
erature skills, and their academic learning and
“Growing up in the Caribbean, we were always their mental health and wellbeing.”
told imaginative stories. My grandmother would
tell us stories all the time, It’s part of the culture. Dolly May and the Magical Enchanted Garden is
accompanied by a range of children’s clothing
As I was developing the story there was a lot of and accessories, including a book bag, shop-
political tensions brewing that were not showing per, and cooking time aprons. It aims to offer
our men in a good light. So, as I worked on the a cultural experience that can add value to all
characters, I wanted to show children that they children’s education and ensure all children feel
are valuable, and they are important. valued.

MAGAZINE // 20 They get the opportunity in the book, to meet key The Book also available in Libraries and book
shops including Amazon
figures and influencers who did great things in
the world.

The aim is to develop children’s self-worth and