Save the Date!
14th October 2024 – Tọlá Okogwun will be visiting Reception to Year 6
Tọlá Okogwu is an award-winning and best-selling author of the Onyeka, Daddy Do My Hair and Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door series. She believes it’s important for children to read books that are reflective of their own experiences, as well as other cultures and she seeks to create these opportunities through her books and wider writing.
Her originally self-published picture book series, DADDY DO MY HAIR is a firm family favourite, with noted fans such as Thandiwe Newton and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The books were inspired by the relationship between Tọlá’s husband and daughters and are designed to celebrate the special bond between father and child, whilst also showcasing the beauty of Afro textured hair.
ONYEKA AND THE ACADEMY OF THE SUN, the first book in Tọlá’s debut middle grade series was a Waterstones Book of the Month on publication and a winner of the 2023 Children’s Africana Book Award for Older Readers. It was also named a 2023 ALSC Notable Children’s Recording and shortlisted for the British Book Awards as well as the inaugural The Week Junior Children’s Book Awards. The second instalment, ONYEKA AND THE RISE OF THE REBELS was published in March 2023 and received a coveted starred review from Kirkus. The final instalment in the series, ONYEKA AND THE HEROES OF THE DAWN published March 2024, with an additional title, ONYEKA AND THE SECRET SUPERHERO, which was a 2024 World Book Day title and a UK top ten bestseller.
Tola writes as part of the dynamic duo, Lola Morayo with four books in the, AZIZA’S SECRET FAIRY DOOR series published by Macmillan Children’s Books. Her work has also featured in several anthologies, including FUTURE HOPES and BLACK GIRL POWER.
Tọlá lives in Kent, England with her husband and two daughters.
