Children’s author explains why it’s vital that gatekeepers step up and choose books responsibly and mindfully

Abiola Bello is a publishing entrepreneur and prize-winning, Carnegie-nominated author of the Emily Knight middle grade fantasy fiction series. The third book, Emily Knight I Am… Becoming is due for release on September 17 from independent publishing house Hashtag Press. For more information about Abiola Bello: www.a-bello.com

It’s so important that children see themselves reflected in books, whether it be race, background, disability, or religion. Books are created to inform but also to entertain and children should feel as though the book is speaking to them. Of course, you can be inspired by a book with a character that is the complete opposite to you, but I remember as a child I was so excited to read about a black person. This didn’t happen often as there weren’t many options in the 90s, but those books seemed to touch me differently, when it was about someone so similar to me.

Parents/guardians/teachers are the gatekeepers to which books children have access to. It is their responsibility to do their research to find the best books for their child. I feel that the books children should be reading are those that are inclusive; that show a diverse cast, because as children get older, they will be able to connect better with people from different backgrounds.

Where do you find these books? The first stop should be your local library. Librarians are responsible for knowing about new books, themes, what’s suitable for what age group etc. You can request a book in your library (I do this all the time) especially if they are a small one, as they may not have all the titles to hand.

Next, check your child’s library. Schools have so much influence over young people and if you don’t see a range of books then speak up! I work in publishing and I know when librarians ask for certain books, publishers are very quick to suggest titles and send books for free.

Indie bookshops are way more diverse than the big stores such as Waterstones. And because they’re small, the staff have more time to help you. Plus they need our support right now, more so than ever, so do browse your local indie shop – online if you can’t get to the shop itself.

I wrote my first Emily Knight book when I was twelve years old. I didn’t read many books with black characters, but I did read about ambitious, fun, smart young girls from authors like Judy Blume and Jacqueline Wilson. What I didn’t see in books were girls just as tough as the boys. Girls that can kick butt but still look cute doing it! So I wrote my book.

Since then more books have come out with brave, ambitious girls like Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games or Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. It is much easier now to find books with characters in all shape and sizes but there is still a need for more books with ethnic characters and disabilities. 28 www.thefamilygrapevine.co.uk/west-kent www.thefamilygrapevine.co.uk/west-kent

I go into schools as an author and I spent years in schools as a street dance teacher. I didn’t tell the children about my author work but they have a way of finding out! Once they do, they’re so excited and usually tell me they have never met an author before. They immediately want to know what my book is about, what inspired me, where can they buy the book and how they too can become authors. Most of them never even knew that being an author was a job, which is funny as I felt the exact same way as a child. I had no idea about the publishing industry in general until my English teacher in Year 7 told me I should be an author.

I have a book competition for young writers called The little BIG Book Comp (www.thelilauthorskool.com) that gets hundreds of submissions whenever I open up a new round. When I talk about the competition at schools I always get so many kids asking me how to enter. It just shows how many children would love to see their words in print.

The feedback I’ve received for the Emily Knight series has been incredible. Teachers, parents and children are always so excited to read about a girl who is brave, strong and rich, who has to deal with real life issues like family dramas and boys but she’s also a superhero. It’s refreshing to read a book with a black girl by a black writer that isn’t about racial issues. Emily Knight just has issues because she is a teenage girl! Readers love that the cast is diverse because they’re able to at least read about one character that is similar to them.

I hope as publishing develops there will be more UK diverse books published for young people. We will no longer need to use the hashtag #WeNeedDiverseBooks because it will be the norm. I ‘m excited for a time when I can walk into a bookshop and see a range of books displayed proudly on the bookshelf that feature Black, Asian, Spanish, disabilities, LGBTQI+, Muslim etc, written by writers from all backgrounds.

The next book in the Emily Knight series is officially confirmed for release on 17th September 2020! The eagerly anticipated third book follows the incredible success of Emily Knight I am... Awakened, which released in September 2017 and has since received a prestigious Carnegie nomination and enjoyed first place in the London's BIG Read 2019.