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The Carpenter Garden is an outdoor creative space in the neighborhood of Binghamton in Memphis, TN. The location used to be known for drug and prostitution houses, but now it's literally been transformed to a place where children gather to create art, experience performances, and build relationships. All provided free for the children due to the generous donations of individuals and organizations.  Look at all these beautiful treasures surrounding me! This summer, I had the privilege of being a guest author at the Carpenter Art Garden Summer Book Club. I was invited to read my book, “Keep Moving Forward, Henry!” and had the best time! I shared with the kids how my love for writing began and how we all have stories about our families, upbringing, culture, and experiences that we can write about. In today's diverse and inclusive society, representation matters more than ever. For black children, meeting black authors can be an incredibly empowering and transformative experience. After I left the Carpenter's Garden, I was privileged, through my book, to allow the children to see themselves reflected in literature, validate their identities, and provide a platform for shared experiences and cultural understanding. I came to the Garden to encourage the kids with the themes found in "Keep Moving Forward, Henry." Themes of perseverance, a positive mindset, and overcoming obstacles. What I didn't know or expect was how empowered I would feel by their love and acceptance. I came to encourage and in return, they encouraged and inspired me in my journey as a writer. We had an equal exchange, and it was beautiful. Click here to learn more about how to get involved with the Carpenter Garden.
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Make sure to like and share the book trailer with your community. Fire-Lit Lovely English picture book and e-book now available for purchase.
 I'm excited to share the news that the English version of "Fire-Lit Lovely: A Daddy and Daughter Love Story" is now available in paperback and E-book format on Amazon.com. The reviews are coming in, and the book has been well-received! In fact, read the first review that Fire-Lit Lovely received on Dec 1st below:  The day I launched Fire-Lit Lovely, I waited anxiously to read the reviews. You see, I wrote the story and loved it already. But the real test is when others read it.
I want the readers, parents, and children to love the story just as much as I do--or perhaps even more. And after reading my first review, I knew the book was off to a great start! To read more reviews, click here. Ayanna Murray has launched another incredible children's picture book, "Fire-Lit Lovely: A Daddy and Daughter Love Story." The E-book will be made available for FREE from Dec 1-Dec 4th. Please support her work by reading the book on Amazon Kindle and leave a positive review. Help Ayanna reach 30 positive reviews by Dec 4th, 2022!
"Fire-Lit Lovely" picture book reads as a lyrical poem spoken by Rose, the apple of her father’s eye. Follow her in this story as she talks about her cherished relationship with being “daddy’s little girl.” This sweet picture book is perfect for fathers with children ages 5 to 9. With the beautiful illustrations, readers will see the tender way Rose and her father interact and how he encourages her to reach her fullest potential. Click here to download the book from Dec 1-Dec 4th, 2022  Photo by Orione Conceição "A daughter needs a dad to be the standard against which she will judge all men." – Unknown Fathers, do you know how important you are? Listed on the Fatherhood Resource Hub website, it stated that "Children who grow up with involved fathers experience better mental, emotional, educational, and social outcomes, and are: *39% more likely to earn mostly A's in school *45% less likely to repeat a grade *60% less likely to be suspended or expelled from school *2X as likely to go to college or find stable employment after high school *75% less likely to have a teen birth *80% less likely to spend time in jail."  Photo by Pavel Danilyuk "Fathers, be your daughter's first love, and she'll never settle for anything less." – Unknown Wow! The role and participation of a father is vital to his child's success and overall development. My children are so blessed to have an amazing dad. My husband Bryan had a very involved father. As a result, he learned how to commit himself to loving our children in such extraordinary ways. But I will say that I think my girls, in particular, are a wee bit spoiled. I don't mind it on most days, but on some days, it drives me crazy! Watching my husband interact with my children inspired me to write a story about the beauty of the father-and-daughter relationship.  In my upcoming book, "Fire-Lit Lovely: A Daddy and Daughter Love Story" the dad takes his daughter, Rose, on a date. They attend a father-daughter dance and have the best time together. Rose understands that she holds her daddy's heart.  Written in lyrical verse, Rose shares how "Magically aglow, I brighten up his days and nights… I'm his mesmerizing ember... I'm his bright and brilliant delight..." As a little girl, she understands the sacredness of their relationship. And it's my hope that once girls and fathers read this book together, they will cherish the beauty of their connection.  Photo by Ketut Subiyanto “A little girl giggles when she is denied an ice-cream by her mother. She knows daddy will get her some later.” – Unknown Dads and daughters have the opportunity to have an extraordinary relationship. One of my fondest memories connected to my father occurred when I was about 3 or 4 years old, competing in my first track and field All-Comers Meet. I was running the 400-meter dash, and the track at the University of Oregon's "Hayward Field" seemed like it went on forever. My dad was a long-distance runner, and since we lived in Eugene, Oregon, better known as "TrackTown USA," he wanted my sister and I to give running a chance. More than running the race that day, the part I remember most is seeing my dad running along the track with me. I remember him saying, "Run, Yani, Run!" (Yani is my childhood nickname). And even though I wanted to quit because the race was so tough, he encouraged me every step of the way. Last month, I was taking a walk in the park and witnessed the "IronKids" running half a mile. Seeing parents run alongside their children flooded me with the beautiful memory of my father doing the same for me so many years ago.
Fathers, please don't underestimate the power of your active presence in your children's lives. They really need you. They need your provision, your protection, and for you to take pleasure in their presence. Knowing that fathers have such an impactful role in child development, I wrote my recent book, "Fire-Lit Lovely: A Daddy and Daughter Love Story." It's the perfect book for dads who want to connect with their little girls ages 5-9. The illustration below is based explicitly on the memory of my dad supporting me on the day of the All-Comers Meet.   I wrote Fire-Lit Lovely to promote fatherhood, the special connection fathers have with daughters, and to provide an opportunity for little girls to sit in their daddies' laps for storytime. In addition, I created the companion activity book, "Daddy-Daughter Connect and Bond Coloring & Activity Book." This activity book takes the beautiful message from the picture book and gives dads a way to continue to build upon the connection.  The activity book, provides over 50 activities that dad and daughter can do together, like word scrambles, play time ideas, crossword puzzles, and so much more! To find out about the upcoming book release please sign up for the newsletter.  I am so excited to share the news about my latest children’s book, “Fire-Lit Lovely: A Daddy and Daughter Love Story.” This story is perfect for fathers with daughters ages 5-9. It showcases a father’s love and adoration for his daughter, Rose, who was born with bright red hair. Beautifully illustrated, the text reads as a lyrical poem spoken by Rose, who, throughout the story, talks about her beloved and cherished relationship with being “daddy’s girl.” From beginning to end, readers will see the tender way Rose and her father interact and how he encourages her to reach her fullest potential.  I wrote this story because there aren’t enough books about all the amazing Black fathers who love and cherish their children. I am absolutely in love with social media accounts like “Bourgiedads” on Instagram, which put on beautiful displays of Black men actively loving on their children.  I grew up with a loving father, and my children are also blessed with an incredible dad. Fire-Lit Lovely displays the power of a father figure, specifically in his daughter’s life. Any father of any ethnicity will find beautiful treasures in this book to share with his daughter. They will also enjoy the accompanying “Daddy-Daughter Connect and Bond Coloring & Activity Book.” Sometimes fathers don’t know how to maximize their time with their daughters, and this activity book provides some entertaining activities that dads can complete with their daughters.  Now accepting bulk orders! If you'd like to receive 30-50% off any of my books please consider ordering bulk. The process is very easy:
1. Fill out the Order Form Once I receive your order form, I will send you an invoice which will include the total pricing for the books, taxes, and shipping. 2. Send in Your Payment 3. Books Will Arrive in 2-3 weeks It's as EASY as 1 -2- 3!! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Keep Moving Forward, Henry! Available on Amazon.com Written by Ayanna Murray Illustrated by Estefania Razo  A young Henry Luvert risks his life as a firefighter. He is one of the first Black firemen in Eugene, Oregon. His job is to be fearless and rescue people from danger – but what happens when other firemen start to treat him differently because of his skin color? Follow him as he fights fires and racism at the same time. Young readers will follow the heroism of young firefighter Henry Luvert in the new children’s book, Keep Moving Forward, Henry! As the book explores the experiences of one of Eugene’s first Black firefighters, young people will learn about the obstacles that can come with being a trailblazer. Luvert, who also served as a hoseman with the Eugene Fire Department, had the dangerous responsibility of being the first to enter the fire and last to leave burning buildings. “You have to be brave to serve as a firefighter,” recalls Luvert, who also served as an emergency dispatcher. “I’ve experienced discrimination all my life,” he reflected, “I just never thought I would have to fight fires and then fight racism in the fire department." This beautifully illustrated story highlights the complexity and struggle of someone dealing with racism and discrimination. In this picture book, Luvert’s resilience will inspire readers to never give up. Teachers and parents alike can use this story to spark amazing discussions with youth. It allows young readers to empathize with those who experience the effects of injustice and invites them to think about how they treat people who are different. Author Ayanna Murray is the daughter of Henry Luvert and an entrepreneur, teacher, and speaker. Ayanna creates thoughtful stories that teach young people about self-determination and the power of perseverance. Originally from Eugene, she lives in Memphis, Tennessee with her husband and four kids. For more information please visit www.ayannamurray.com. Empathy/Racism/Equality/Respect/Justice/Black History [Ages 7-12] Paperback, 8 x 10 inches, 40 pages ISBN: 978-1-954781-00-9, $9.99 U.S.  I woke up last Saturday to such a beautiful surprise! So many people downloaded the "Keep Moving Forward, Henry!" e-book that it became Amazon's #1 New Release in Children's Prejudice & Racism category! Since I was a child--I've had the intention of combating racism and prejudice. At the time, I thought that if I could become a U.S. Ambassador then I could travel the U.S. and the globe and influence others to see that people of color are just people. I wanted to share the message that we are all apart of one race--the human race. Well, I didn't become a U.S. Ambassador but I still feel called to carry the message: that although we may look different, eat different foods, have varying cultural traditions--we all deserve the right to be treated with compassion, dignity, empathy, respect and kindness.  As I was reflecting on having a book become number one in the category of race and prejudice--my eyes were peaked when I came across this post on Facebook: "If children are old enough to experience racism, white children are old enough to learn about it." The topic of race is something that many children of color have to grapple with at a very young age. For me--it was when I was 5 years old and in kindergarten. I remember a boy in my class called me a "nigger." If children are capable of name calling, bullying, ostracizing, etc....then they are definitely old enough to learn how to respectfully treat people who look different than them. But many parents are hesitant to broach this subject with their kids. In fact, I had a white homeschool mother tell me she didn't teach about slavery until her kids were in high school. She wanted to protect them from such a harsh subject. In my mind, I was thinking how in the world do you teach our countries history without talking about the millions of enslaved Africans who helped build it? Shocking--right?! But before you get mad at her--to be fair--the school systems really aren't much better. That's why I feel so honored and privileged to write about this topic to make it easier for parents and teachers to address issues of race and prejudice. I want to see change and I know it can actually happen if we address it with the children.  So when I got this picture (below) from a teacher in Texas--my heart exploded with joy and thankfulness. If the children catch on to the message---then brighter and better days are ahead for all of us!  Click here to learn more about the background of "Keep Moving Forward, Henry!"
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AuthorAyanna is an author that enjoys writing fiction, historical fiction, non-fiction, and poetry for children. As of today, she has published over 6 children's picture books and has more coming out in the near future. Archives
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