Naomi V. Dunsen-White is a children’s book author who seeks to inspire children with messages of diversity, purpose and pursuit of their dreams. She believes that all children have a gift within them, just waiting to be discovered. It’s up to us, the adults in their lives, to help them discover it. Positive representation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) characters in children's literature is of utmost importance to Naomi. She supports and shares the work of the Children’s Cooperative Book Collective (CCBC) in its research on the lack of diversity in children’s books. Believing that every child deserves to see characters in their books who look like them, Naomi strives to make a difference by raising awareness about the need for equity in the children’s book industry. 

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As a former foster care specialist and educator, Naomi believes the academic and therapeutic benefits of children’s books far outweigh the entertainment value. She loves writing stories that encourage children to use their creativity, imagination, and discover their unlimited potential. Her debut book, “Johari The Great,” features an African American student, inspired by his teacher to use his imagination to write. In doing so, he discovers his greatness and the gift he has inside! This engaging story encourages reading, writing and the reward of setting and pursuing goals. Naomi focuses on vocabulary and reading comprehension as stepping stones to reading excellence, and includes worksheets in her books to enhance learning and encourage family discussion. 

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Naomi is also an editor, specializing in children’s and YA books. Her dream is to establish a nonprofit organization that promotes diversity and equity in literacy, and provides coaching, support and publishing assistance to independent BIPOC children’s authors, and ultimately distribute their books to communities in need. Naomi resides in Novi, Michigan.

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You can follow for more updates about Naomi and her books on Instagram @naomibooksllc.

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For more author conversations and books featuring BIPOC characters by BIPOC authors, head over to www.storiesofacolorfulworld.com.