Tọlá Okogwu
Tọlá Okogwu is a British-Nigerian author, journalist and hair care educator. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, but raised in London, England, she holds a bachelor of arts degree in journalism. Having spent several years exploring the world of blogging, hair care and freelance writing, she finally returned to her first love: fiction. Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun was her first middle-grade book. Tọlá now lives in Kent with her husband and two daughters. An avid reader and lover of music, she's also a sucker for melted cheese.
Books
Daddy Do My Hair: Beth’s Twists
Author: Tola Okogwu
Illustrator: Chanté Timothy
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 4-6
Reading age: 5+
Softly rhyming text and glowing, illustrations in this calm, gentle book celebrate an apparently insignificant domestic ritual, which means everything to this father and daughter as they make time for each other.
Daddy Do My Hair: Hope’s Braids
Author: Tola Okogwu Illustrator: Rahima Begum
Publisher: Florence Elizabeth Publishing
Interest age: 4-6
Reading age: 5+
'There is something wrong with my big, frizzy mop. The children call me ginger and names like carrot top!’ A gentle read on how to deal with anxieties around standing out and dealing with bullying from an early age.
Daddy Do My Hair: Kechi’s Hair Goes Every Which Way
Author: Tola Okogwu Illustrator: Naomi Wright
Publisher: Florence Elizabeth Publishing
Interest age: 4-6
Reading age: 5+
Kechi’s Mum knows lots of different ways to style her big beautiful curly hair. But when it’s Kechi’s Daddy who has to take her to school, we see him trying, and failing, to do her hair just like Mummy does. Fun and hilarity follows...
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun
Author: Tọlá Okogwu
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
Onyeka has always hated her hair so it’s ironic that it should turn out to be the source of a spectacular superpower.
Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels
Author: Tọlá Okogwu
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
Can Onyeka and her new superhero allies, the Rebels, stop Dr Dòyìnbó from taking over the country? Full of superhero moves and gadgets, this is an thrilling adventure for fans of the Black Panther franchise.