This was a children's book that I designed for a small company called GCM Press in which I had full creative control over. Growing up I never really saw kids with my hair texture represented in various aspects, whether that was in children’s books, shows/movies, or toys. As a result of this I figured my life would be easier if my hair was naturally straight, so I decided to relax my hair at 13. Less than 2 years later I began to see more and more of my peers with diverse backgrounds and hair textures and I had realized that maybe this isn’t all I had hoped it would be so I started doing research on natural hair, learning how to care for it so that eventually I could get my hair back to its natural state. The main character will be a little girl named Zuri which in Swahili means beautiful. Choosing this name reflects her journey towards recognizing and celebrating the beauty of her natural hair. It also connects with the theme of embracing one’s unique features and heritage. While diversity and inclusion is a big part of many industries today, Zuri’s journey is a quest, an adventure that encourages young black girls to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and acceptance, fostering a sense of empowerment and love for their unique curls. illustrator…This was a children's book that I designed for a small company called GCM Press in which I had full creative control over. Growing up I never really saw kids with my hair texture represented in various aspects, whether that was in children’s books, shows/movies, or toys. As a result of this I figured my life would be easier if my hair was naturally straight, so I decided to relax my hair at 13. Less than 2 years later I began to see more and more of my peers with diverse backgrounds and hair textures and I had realized that maybe this isn’t all I had hoped it would be so I started doing research on natural hair, learning how to care for it so that eventually I could get my hair back to its natural state. The main character will be a little girl named Zuri which in Swahili means beautiful. Choosing this name reflects her journey towards recognizing and celebrating the beauty of her natural hair. It also connects with the theme of embracing one’s unique features and heritage. While diversity and inclusion is a big part of many industries today, Zuri’s journey is a quest, an adventure that encourages young black girls to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and acceptance, fostering a sense of empowerment and love for their unique curls. illustratorWW…