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Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tola Okogwu

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Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month, June 2022

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A debut action-packed  middle-grade superhero novel about a British-Nigerian girl who learns that her Afro hair has psychokinetic powers.

I close my eyes, trying to push the power bubbling in me back down… Hairbands snap as my hair shoots out like superfine arrows, tearing through everything in its path.

Onyeka has a lot of hair – the kind that makes strangers stop in the street. She’s always felt insecure about her vibrant curls, until she makes an important discovery: she can control her hair with her mind!

Her mother quickly whisks her off to the Academy of the Sun, a school in Nigeria where Solari – children with superpowers – are trained. But Onyeka and her new friends at the Academy soon have to put their powers to the test as they find themselves embroiled in a momentous battle between truth and lies…

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The Story of Afro Hair by K. N. Chimbiri ill. Joelle Avelino

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“This thought-provoking, lively and accessible guide for seven plus takes its reader from the stately hairstyles of ancient Egypt and Great Benin to the wide-ranging fashions of the present day…” GUARDIAN

Explore the incredible history of Afro hair. The Story of Afro Hair celebrates the fashion and styles of Afro hair over the last 5,000 years. From plaits to the Gibson Girl, cornrows to locks, the hi-top fade to funki dreds, The Story of Afro Hair is the ultimate book of Afro hairstories. Kicking off with an explanation of how Afro hair type grows and why, The Story of Afro Hair then takes us right back to the politics and fashion of Ancient Egypt. Speeding forwards to modern times we experience the Kingdom of Benin, Henry VIII’s court, the enslavement of African peoples, the Harlem Renaissance, the beginnings of Rastafarianism, Britain in the 1980s – and much more. With vibrant full colour illustrations by Joelle Avelino. A sparkling gold foil hardback cover – the perfect gift for anyone interested in culture, fashion and history. With profiles of inspirational key figures in the Afro hair beauty industry, such as Sara Spencer Washington, Madam CJ Walker, Viola Desmond, Lincoln Dyke, Dudley Dryden and Anthony Wade.

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Oona by Kelly DiPucchio ill. Raissa Figueroa

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“Oona is an adorable protagonist, with her dark skin, enormous Afro, and striped, orange tail. With her ups and downs and her fundamental ebullience, she will easily win fans… messages of persistence and of valuing the work of one’s own creation are strong and effective.” KIRKUS

Oona and her best friend Otto love to search for treasure…and often find trouble instead. Messy trouble. Tricky trouble. Even shark-related trouble. That’s never stopped them before, though! After all, no proper treasure hunt is without some adventure. But when the grandest treasure yet is stuck in a deep, dark rift, Oona’s not sure if she can dive right in. What might be waiting for her in those unknown waters?

Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rizzyfig/