The idea of family has changed: Matthew Green and Naomi Kissiedu-Green with their children Savannah, Kobi and Ebony Green.
Camera IconThe idea of family has changed: Matthew Green and Naomi Kissiedu-Green with their children Savannah, Kobi and Ebony Green. Credit: Supplied/Matt Jelonek        www.communitypix.com.au d448241

Family inspires book on life

Bryce LuffFremantle Gazette

Naomi Kissiedu-Green, a woman of Ghanaian heritage, has three children under four years of age with her Australian husband Matthew Green.

The qualified childcare worker said she searched high and low for books depicting families with diverse backgrounds to read to her kids.

Locally she could find little so she imported literature from overseas.

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That is when The Colourful Life! series, Kissiedu-Green’s first publishing venture, was born.

“It can be a struggle to find books to read to your children that depict multicultural families, or even families of other cultures,” she said.

“I wrote The Colourful Life! for multiracial families like mine and other families who want to embrace diversity and acceptance.”

Two books from the series– Same But Different and Surprise Baby – were released at the end of last year.

Getting the books on shelves has been a long process that began more than 2½ years ago.

Kissiedu-Green said she had received plenty of support and feedback from parents during development of the books, and while publishers were complimentary, most were deterred by a feeling they would not appeal to a large enough audience.

“It was disappointing to hear that these books were considered too niche,” she said.

“The idea of families has changed.

“Every child should be able to identify with books regardless of whether there is only that one child in the class.”

For more find The Colourful Life! on Facebook.