Book Giveaway: HAPPY WITH MY NAPPY by Gina Jarrell

Gina Jarrell has a new picture book, HAPPY WITH MY NAPPY, illustrated by Lhaiza Morena and published by Sleeping Bear Press on April 15th. They have agreed to send a copy to the one lucky winner in the US.

Just leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Let me know other things you did to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, or reblogging really helps spread the word about a new book. So, thanks for helping Gina and Lhaiza.

If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you every day, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. 

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Everyone’s hair is different and good, and one girl shares all the things that delight her about her nappy curls. It stretches! It’s springy! It twirls and loops and hoops! But that’s nothing compared to all the amazing things she can do with it to express her every mood and style. It is truly unique. Just like her! Part of the Own Voices, Own Stories collection.

BOOK JOURNEY:

Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to share my journey of creating Happy With My Nappy with you and your readers!

It all began on a particularly challenging wash day. Having recently embarked on my natural hair journey after cutting off my six-year-old dreadlocks, I found myself lost in the sea of YouTube tutorials and a plethora of natural, organic, oil-free, deep moisturizing products. Despite my efforts, my hair just wasn’t cooperating the way I envisioned.

The term “Nappy” had never been an endearing one for me, yet it was often used by well-meaning friends and family as the best term to describe my hair. Other identifying terms like “coarse,” “kinky,” “tight,” or the classic “4C” added to the negative connotations [within my community 4C was viewed as “bad hair” since it was hardest to straighten using hot combs and chemical relaxers]. Looking in the mirror, I couldn’t escape the weight of these descriptors and the impact they might have on my daughter, who shares the same hair texture.

In that moment, I realized the profound responsibility I held in shaping her self-worth. The weight of this responsibility led me to write a poem of self-love and affirmation about my hair because, ultimately, my hair is her hair, and she deserves to be happy with her nappy.

From this wash day realization, I penned the first version of the Happy with My Nappy as a poem in my notepad app on my phone. It started with the harshest statement ever said to me, flipping its intention to be a source of utmost pride: “Happy with my nappy, with my nappy, nappy, naps.”

To have a head full of “nappy, naps” was something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. I wanted to replace these feelings with an armor built from confidence. I imagined my seven-year-old self saying this sentence over and over again and contemplated how a mantra like this would have changed her self-perception and enhanced her self-esteem.

I repeated it to my daughter on wash days, and now she says it on her own whenever she’s especially excited about a new hairdo. “Nappy” is already a source of pride to her. Recognizing the value these words could have for other little boys and girls, I knew this project needed to be shared with as many people as possible. This meant I needed an opportunity to reach an audience beyond what I’d been able to do as a self-published author. So, I decided to submit this work to a publisher.

Just after joining SCBWI, I saw a post on Facebook by our regional advisor regarding open submissions to Sleeping Bear Press for their “Own Voices, Own Stories” award. I discovered this opportunity only a couple of days before the submission deadline. Despite my fears of sharing something so personal, I sent the application. A few months later, I received a very kind rejection letter.

Undeterred, I started editing, revising, studying, and completely revamping the manuscript. Inspired to create a book with a rhyme for a fun read-aloud appeal for parents, combining the vibes of I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont with the heart behind Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, I wasn’t sure what was missing. Assuming everything written to this point was lacking something.

I tried to plot a story (perhaps a school picture day) and attempted to construct a point of conflict. None of the new perspectives felt quite right, but I had to figure out something. I genuinely felt like this work needed to be shared as a mantra for others. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get anyone to understand the power of having a main character unquestionably confident with their “nappy” hair and how much that would mean to kids to see themselves in that way.

After querying agents and submitting Happy With My Nappy to other publishers, I resigned myself to having to self-publish the work. I started illustrating the manuscript, but it just felt wrong. I wasn’t happy with any of my design choices. I felt like I wasn’t capturing the character who matched the voice of this poem. I came to the very harsh realization that I was not the one needed to illustrate this work, but I did not have the budget to hire an illustrator on my own…then Sleeping Bear Press’s editor, Sarah Rockett, called me.

After a summer of revising and changing this poem, I was not expecting what happened next. Sarah explained that she could not get the hook of the poem out of her head and that they wanted to extend to me the opportunity to publish Happy With My Nappy. After moving forward with the project, I shared the original submitted manuscript with her along with a newer version including all of my Frankensteinish revisions—the original poem won out by a landslide.

When it came to the illustrations, Sarah shared the news that they had found Lhaiza Morena and emailed me a link to her portfolio; I was absolutely ecstatic! I saw all of the passion for representing not only the diversity of black and brown people but also our various hairstyles and hair textures throughout her portfolio. I knew her images would have the impact we needed to get the book to the kids who would be most affected by the sentiments promoting love for one’s hair, proper hair care, and celebrating hair diversity.

As you can see, the journey with Happy With My Nappy was definitely a roller coaster ride of emotions from its beginning as a poem memo on my phone to being the fully published picture book that it is now. I am so grateful for this opportunity to work with such an amazing team at Sleeping Bear Press and with a talented illustrator like Lhaiza Morena. I am also grateful to you, Karen, for giving me this moment to share this background story. I hope Happy With My Nappy is able to make its way to as many families as possible in order to spread its message of self-love and confidence.

GINA’S BIO:

Gina Jarrell, originally from Davenport, IA, is a multifaceted author, illustrator, and designer currently residing in the vibrant city of New York. Holding a B.A. in Fine Art from Augustana College, she initially studied Studio Art at the University of San Francisco. She is a passionate advocate for BIPOC representation in literature and strives to weave compelling stories that resonate with children of all ages. Her journey in the world of illustration began with the self-published book “Wings” by Reginald Jarrell in 2019, marking her debut as a book illustrator.

Her latest work, “Happy With My Nappy,” is Gina’s first traditionally published book, released by Sleeping Bear Press. She also authored and illustrated “When I See You Again” in August 2020, capturing the essence of pandemic isolation while highlighting the hope of reuniting with friends. The book beautifully reflects on the positive aspects of the period, emphasizing learning new things and spending quality time with loved ones.

In 2021, Gina contributed to “The Adventures of Little Chick and Uncle: The Search for Tank,” handling illustration and editing for this delightful tale published by Erika D. Jones. Gina’s diverse portfolio can be explored on her website: https://ginajarrell.art, and she actively shares her creative journey on Instagram under the handle @ginajarrell.art.

Gina Jarrell is an author/illustrator originally from Davenport, IA. She earned her B.A. from Augustana College in Fine Art after studying Studio Art for two years at the University of San Francisco. She hopes to tell many stories that connect to children of all ages.

LHAIZA’S BIO:

Lhaiza Morena Castro is a Brazilian artist who set out on a mission to represent black characters in children’s books, helping young black readers love themselves, their hair and their skin.

With her bold and energetic cartoon style, she is achieving that goal and then some. A rising star in Brazilian children’s illustration, Lhaiza now has an enviable client list including brands that are household names across the country.

Gina, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. This is a wonderfully positive book. Most little girls grow up wanting more from their hair. If it’s curly, they want it straight. If it’s thin, they want it thick. The list goes on and on even into adulthood. It was so much fun to read this story of a little girl who loves her hair and shares all the ways her hair is great.  I am sure this book will help other girls to love their hair like this little girl who’s happy with her nappy.

I also enjoyed Lhaiza’s illustrations. Gina’s text gave Lhaiza so many opportunities to show off her artistic talents. I loved her depiction of the people around the main character – the sister, her friends, Shirley the neighbor, Kevin’s cornrows, Zak’s dreads, and the little puppy. Plus, I love the last page where all the people we met in the book show up for a picnic in the park, happy together. Kids and parents will close this book with a smile on their faces. Good luck with the book.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy