On Wednesday the 13th of October, I was lucky enough to sit in on a story time at Southfields Library, given by the wonderful Kamapala Chukwuka in celebration of Black History. Despite being some 10 years older than the target audience of the talk (most of the audience being 2-5 years old), I found Kamapala’s books Kind and Mummy’s Love Will Always Be! extremely heartfelt and touching. It was inspiring not only to see how many children were engaged and excited to hear Kamapala’s stories, but also to realise just how much was going on at the library. From a recycled art workshop inspired by African traditions for Black History Month, to a weekly a social group for people living with Dementia, it seemed full of ways for the community to stay connected and educated.
As the session began, Kamapala introduced her books to the children as bright, colourful, and as having characters who “look like me!” She went on to explain the importance of inclusivity on children’s bookshelves, saying “I feel the world should have variety, and people should accept one another for that.” Kamapala’s passion for diversity and inclusivity was infectious, so that when asked if they enjoyed meeting children from different background, the audience replied with a chorus of yeses. Both books served as a fundamental guide for children to understand the importance of not just accepting, but celebrating people’s differences. The conversation steered to what the children hoped to be when they grew up, with one little girl sharing that she wished to be a soldier (a declaration met by a round of applause). But having heard Kamapala’s picture-book Kind, she corrected herself, instead assuring us that she aspired to be a kind soldier. This just goes to show how engaging and relatable Kamapala’s stories were for the young listeners.
Though the session focused primarily on the value of kindness and consideration, a resounding message was the importance of having diversity in literature. I was lucky enough to speak with Kamapala about her work, and when asked what the importance of black history month meant for her, she replied “I think that more than anything, I want to add variety to children’s books. When I started looking for books like these, I couldn’t find them in my children’s libraries. It’s not even about black or white, it’s about variety.” It was particularly impactful when she added “When the kids see different cultures and people who look different from them, it teaches them that they don’t live in a bubble. They see that there can’t be just an us and a them, there has to be a global vision.”
To conclude the story-time Kamapala added, “When we are kind to each other, we are kind to ourselves and everyone around us.” This message encapsulates the whole session, in that despite the significance of the moral, it was put in terms that were accessible to the young audience, making them altogether more affective. The session earned much applause and thank you's from all, praise truly well deserved by Kamapala Chukwuka, sharing her books with enthusiasm and an unwavering smile.
