Rosie And Her Mum Publish Book to Celebrate Diversity
said: “Although the last few months have been very difficult, working from home whilst trying to home-school three children who have not been allowed out at all, projects like publishing this book have kept us going.
Maddie the author A mother and daughter from South Manchester have published a story book during lockdown, which celebrates their diverse local community. Sally Penni, 41, and her daughter Maddie, 6, began writing Rosie and the Unicorn together when home-schooling got tough. Maddie’s love for magical creatures became the starting point for the book, which is set to raise funds for three charities. In the story, Rosie wakes up one morning to find a rainbow unicorn outside her bedroom window. The pair fly around her village, meeting local people from all over the world. Rosie
tells the unicorn that people come from all kinds of different families, some have two dads and some have none, they have different religions, different accents and many varying colours of skin. Local landmarks, including the Cheese Hamlet and Didsbury Park, can be seen throughout the book, which is illustrated by Lisa Williams. Lockdown has been tough on the family as Maddie, her parents and two older brothers Jack, 9, and Will, 8, have been shielding throughout to protect a family member. Sally, who works as a lawyer in Manchester,
All profits from the sales of Rosie and the Unicorn will go to the NHS, Manchester Children’s Hospital and Young Minds. Available on Amazon at £7.99.
“Our family is dual heritage and it is so important for our children and many others to see picture book heroes and heroines who look like them. The story of Rosie and the Unicorn celebrates multiculturalism, love and kindness and community cohesion. It invites us into a world that more closely reflects our own experience and confirms that heroines can have brown skin.” Maddie is looking forward to returning to school and taking copies of the book for her teacher and friends. She said: “It’s very exciting to have a book where the characters look like me and my friends.”