Mum from Bedfordshire town inspired by young son to write children's book

A mum who wanted her children to see characters who look like them in books has written a book starring her son.

Titilayo Majekodunmi, from Flitwick, wrote Durotimi The Champion when she struggled to see books for her toddler that reflected him.

And she hopes it will inspire children all around the world that they can be anything they want when they grow up.

Durotimi The Champion features Titilayo’s two-year-old son, as the hero of the story in a variety of jobs, from astronaut to teacher and prime minister to show children especially black boys that any job is available to them.

The 39-year-old mother of three has written books for her other children but never published them. The birth of her son and the lack of diversity in children’s books prompted her to finally publish this one.

Titilayo said: “I have always enjoyed writing, particularly poetry. After the birth of each of my children, I wrote a book for each child to help them in their development, which would be lighthearted, fun and memorable; an ode of love to them.

"The birth of my son brought a new sense of hope, and I wanted to create something valuable specifically for him, which would not only inspire him to be great but also reinforce how wonderful he is.

“As the book Durotimi The Champion evolved, I realised this could encourage other children too, and I decided to share it with the world. My intention is for children to see themselves represented in the best possible way, given ‘as a person thinks is what they become’.

"Statistics show that less than 1 per cent of children’s books in the UK feature a black lead character, which prompted me to create something of value where my son and others can see themselves represented in a positive light.”

Durotimi The Champion will have a virtual book launch on Sunday (December 6). It is available to pre-order here