Interview with Kandace Chimbiri on 'The Story of Afro Hair'

By Luke Chapman | Author, Family, Interview, Kids, Lit in Colour, Parents, Recommended Reads, Teachers

Children's author K.N. Chimbiri talks about afro hair, writing non-fiction, diversity in literature and Lit in Colour

Kandace started her writing career as a self-publishing author, working on the marketing, illustration and creation of her books. She set out to make a change in the industry, to represent voices and people that weren't often shown in children's literature. Now signed with Scholastic, Kandace is releasing a range of books tackling the lack of diversity in publishing and representing children across the nation.

The Story of Afro Hair: 5000 Years of History, Style, and Fashion is a non-fiction book charting the journey of Afro hair from the Ancient Egyptians through the Windrush generation all the way to today's society. The book pairs gorgeous illustrations from Joelle Avelino with Kandace's simple explained text to educate readers about the context, journey and importance of afro hair.

Also talking about Young Writers' Lit in Colour, we chat with Kandace about her place in the industry and what can be done for diversity in publishing.

Watch the full interview below or head to YouTube and make sure to follow Kandace on Instagram and grab a copy of The Story of Afro Hair here.