Amaya is an illustrator, author, and fan of all things art. She lives in small-town Ontario, Canada, with her mom, dad, two sisters, and dog Jax.
At just nine years old, she published her first book, “Afro, No!” in October 2022. Her first offering explores the sometimes complicated relationship that young black girls can have with their hair and speaks to the beauty, uniqueness, and joy that comes with the pain and challenge of getting their hair done. The book was co-written by her whole family and illustrated by Amaya. When asked what she imagines for her future, young Amaya happily responds with, “More drawing, more writing, more art!”
SJPII welcomes Amaya on Tuesday May 9!