Daddy Do My Hair? Beth’s Twists Launched At Discover – Children’s Story Centre

On Saturday 15^th October 2016, 45 guests enjoyed a fabulous family fun day in Stratford, East London to celebrate the culmination of more than a year of hard work by author Tola Okogwu, her business partner (and mother) Florence Olajide, and illustrator Rahima Begum. The three-hour event marked the launch of the first book in a new series celebrating diversity and fatherhood: Daddy Do My Hair? Beth’s Twists. Joined by her daughter Elizabeth – the star of the first book – and her husband, Tola Okogwu (who lives in Gravesend, Kent) explained the significance of creating a series of books that severely under-represented demographics can identify with. Tackling issues including bullying, bereavement and a sense of ‘not fitting in’, the first book in the series celebrates natural, curly hair and fatherhood.

Second book unveiled for 2017

At the launch, it was officially announced that the second book – Daddy Do My Hair? Hope’s Braids – will be released next May in time for Father’s Day. The cover, designed by Rahima Begum, is exclusively revealed today (October 17^th).

The documentary showcasing the making of the Daddy Do My Hair? series is also now available: see the video above.

Hair demonstrations encouraged fathers to have the confidence to do their children’s hair

Demonstrations from Sal Baxter, founder of Root2Tip, inspired guests to create a simple banding style using her beautiful products and cut-up tights as no-snag hairbands. One of the fathers courageously stepped up to join in the demo, and followed Sal’s lead to create a beautiful hair style for his own daughter, admitting “I’m now totally in awe of my wife”.

Tola Okogwu said: “We’d like to thank our generous sponsors for helping to make the Daddy Do My Hair? Beth’s Twists launch such a success: Root2Tip, Mielle Organics and Shea Decadence.”Sample products were provided to guests in the goody bags along with a copy of the new book.

Florence Olajide, who lives in Kent, explains why hosting the launch event in Stratford was the right choice: “Discover Children’s Story Centre is the perfect place for a book launch, just around the corner from Westfield and the Olympic Village, perfectly accessible by public transport, and Stratford is a buzzing place to visit. The venue is a wonderful place for children and families who love literature, and our guests loved the indoor and outdoor play area”.

What did Entertain the Kids think?

We were delighted when Daddy Do My Hair? Beth’s Twists landed on my desk. A very colourful book, very easy on the eye, making this a book that will draw children to pick it up. My son, William (age7), chuckled because his daddy “has no hair“. We read the book together, the book encouraged conversation about dad’s helping and inclusion. The book itself is well written, short and punchy sentences that rhyme making it an easy read.

Entertain the Kids simply loved Daddy Do My Hair? Beth’s Twists and can’t wait to see the next book in the series Daddy Do My Hair? Hope’s Braids.

About the Book

Daddy Do My Hair? Beth’s Twists is a beautiful new book created to celebrate fathers and their relationship with their children. It’s also about natural curly hair – and how important it is for all children to know that they are absolutely perfect just the way they are! It’s a simple and beautifully illustrated rhyming story that makes for relaxed parent-child reading time. Daddy and Beth are characters that everyone – including the severely underrepresented demographic of black families – can identify with and enjoy getting to know.

About the Author

Tola Okogwu is a British blogger and founder of the hair and beauty blog, My Long Hair Journey (MLHJ). Tola holds a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and has written for several beauty publications including Black Beauty and Hair Magazine.

Through her blog, and wider writing, she seeks to inspire, educate and empower young girls of colour to take ownership of who they are and everything that makes them unique. Tola is passionate about parenthood, the role of fathers and strongly believes that resources for parents should be freely and widely available. An avid reader, Tola enjoys spending time with her family and friends around her home in Kent where she lives with her husband and daughter.