Wiggles Room

When reading books to children in a nearby park, Author Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe met a Nanny from Somalia who admired her stories.  After a brief conversation she discovered this young woman graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School with her eldest son.  Rochelle later learned about her struggles adjusting to life in America after leaving her war-torn country.  Being inspired by this young woman Rochelle decided to write a story especially for children from this region of the world.

This story shows how a young African American finds beauty in the headdress worn by a young girl from the Somali Republic.  With the help of her father Keisha discovers the significance of the Hijab and is encouraged to make a new friend. 

 Aisha's Gift shows the innocence and joy children share in making a special friend.

Available May 2012 - Wiggles Press Books
http://rochelleonealthorpe.com/books.html

About the Artist

Artist Anna Leliwa has created the beautiful illustrations for Aisha’s Gift and Dolly’s Winter Surprise. 

In 2000, Anna graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw with Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the Department of Fine Art Restoration. As a Conservator of Fine Art, Anna gained her experiences while working with different painting techniques such as oil painting, acrylic, pastel and watercolor. This knowledge and skills help her to create illustrations which could be easily "read" by children.

Making the illustrations for children's book is like retelling the story. Anna love to focus on all backstage details and characters. She is finding herself really connected to the characters she illustrates.

Anna now lives in Boston and is happily married to Charles and a mother to a Helenka.