The Woke Babies and Tangle Teezer teams shared mission is to ensure that books reflect the world we live in so that no child feels left behind and we’re looking forward to continuing that fight.
Here at Woke Babies, our goal has always been to keep the art of reading books alive and not just any books but diverse black children’s books. We were delighted to team up with fellow Lambeth-based company, Tangle Teezer to donate over £10,000 in books to every primary school in the borough. The books were carefully curated by the incredible teams at both Woke Babies and Tangle Teezer before packing them beautifully in navy blue book bags.
Woke Babies first team up with Tangle Teezer came at the start of the year, producing the Hairytales series in which classic fairy tales were reimagined with Black protagonists. The books came in a gift box paired with Tangle Teezer’s iconic detangler brush. After this successful campaign, we teamed up again to donate diverse, black children’s books to over 60 primary schools.
Woke Babies and Tangle Teezer’s goal is to diversify school reading lists, providing black children’s books that show positive and empowering black characters. CEO’s of Woke Babies and Tangle Teezer, Kelly-Jade Nicholls and Shaun Pulfrey believe that representation to allow children to see themselves in a positive light. It shows them that they can be the hero in a fairytale, an astronaut, a scientist and so many other things. By creating positive imagery it gives young black children assurance that they can achieve anything.
“Overwhelmed by this gorgeous arrival, what a gift to give a world of possibilities to our young people!”
– Henry Fawcett Primary
It's so important to us that our children see themselves represented in the books that they read. A HUGE thank you to @wokebabiesuk for their incredibly kind donations of lots of diverse, shiny new books! Our children are loving them! #diversevoices #RepresentationMatters pic.twitter.com/WxtUUXsL4w
— Kingswood Primary School (@KingswoodSch) July 7, 2021
@wokebabiesuk Thank you so much for your kind donation! pic.twitter.com/4nG3QdrG7U
— Evelina Hospital School (@EvelinaSchool) July 7, 2021
New books 💫 Thank you @wokebabiesuk pic.twitter.com/WQiYHv8IDW
— GlenbrookPrimarySch (@GlenbrookSch) June 25, 2021
Thank you so much! Here @ReayPrimary we are super passionate about having books which reflect our awesome community and just look at all of these new arrivals - generous donations from @wokebabiesuk @tangleteezer & @prettybrowngirls
— Lucy Coates (@LucyCoatesReay) June 15, 2021
We already love them! pic.twitter.com/4es2uQ7nC1
Thank you so much! Here @ReayPrimary we are super passionate about having books which reflect our awesome community and just look at all of these new arrivals - generous donations from @wokebabiesuk @tangleteezer & @prettybrowngirls
— Lucy Coates (@LucyCoatesReay) June 15, 2021
We already love them! pic.twitter.com/4es2uQ7nC1
Thank you @wokebabiesuk for this VERY generous donation of books!!! 📚📚📚We are very grateful for this wonderful diverse collection to also add to our library and book corners. #readingforpleasure #diversitymatters pic.twitter.com/E5rRYyVQu2
— JessopPrimarySchool (@JessopPrimary) June 10, 2021
A massive THANK YOU @wokebabiesuk & @tangleteezer for your VERY kind donation! 🤗🎉 A stunning collection of books for our children to read & dive into!📕📗📘 A wonderful diverse collection to also add to our library! 📚💖#readingforpleasure #DiversityandInclusion #Diversity pic.twitter.com/ReVlU1ocOP
— St Stephen's CofE (@ststephensSW8) June 8, 2021
Thank you @wokebabiesuk @tangleteezer for the amazing books for our school. The children will really enjoy these. @SW9Partnership pic.twitter.com/CD6gcWRWSX
— St.Andrew's (@StAndrewsSW9) June 7, 2021
A HUGE thank you 🙏🏼 to @wokebabiesuk and @tangleteezer for the diverse, high-quality books we received and MUCH NEEDED 🤍 The children cannot wait to sink their teeth into these wonderful books! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/VPsojnpbFM
— FenstantonPrimarySch (@FenstantonSch) May 27, 2021
A HUGE thank you 🙏🏼 to @wokebabiesuk and @tangleteezer for the diverse, high-quality books we received and MUCH NEEDED 🤍 The children cannot wait to sink their teeth into these wonderful books! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/VPsojnpbFM
— FenstantonPrimarySch (@FenstantonSch) May 27, 2021
A HUGE thank you 🙏🏼 to @wokebabiesuk and @tangleteezer for the diverse, high-quality books we received and MUCH NEEDED 🤍 The children cannot wait to sink their teeth into these wonderful books! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/VPsojnpbFM
— FenstantonPrimarySch (@FenstantonSch) May 27, 2021
We have just received a wonderful donation of books from @wokebabiesuk. Carefully chosen books with back protagonists helping to diversify the school library #readingforpleasure #KindnessMatters pic.twitter.com/SwmVyyf1rL
— Streatham Wells (@SWellsschool) May 26, 2021
Thank you woke babies for the wonderful books. A great selection to add to our library celebrating the diversity of Christ Church @tangleteezer @wokebabiesuk @PrettyBrwnGirls pic.twitter.com/pK5rbSQ560
— ChristChurchSch (@ChristChurchSW2) May 26, 2021
700 books and prints to sign today 🥲 how’s your Sunday going? 😬 https://t.co/9eyVkf10RH pic.twitter.com/fz6Y2MoFCJ
— Dapo Adeola (@DapsDraws) June 13, 2021
Allowing children to see themselves in a positive light through creative storytelling, allows them to build up their self-esteem whilst also developing a better understanding of their peers who differ to them, helping them build healthy relationships.
We were extremely excited to be able to donate books each to all primary schools in Lambeth and the response back has been heart-warming, with one school responding “I can’t tell you the amount of staff who actually welled up seeing the books, seeing themselves, and wishing they had these growing up but ever so grateful this generation has them now.”
“One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world”
– Malala Yousafzai
