Interview session with Mistaken Identity author Valerie Braithwaite.
Mistaken Identity is a children’s story about Tallulah, a 3½-year-old girl from a mixed-race family whose Auntie Valerie is a manager at a multicultural Day Centre.
Tallulah and her mother are invited to attend a Black Awareness Course at Salford University in Manchester, and she is excited to learn new things and make new friends. The story explores how people identify themselves based on their skin tone. It highlights the importance of treating everyone equally, regardless of race, culture, gender, age, dress, or disability. With illustrations throughout, it is easy for children to understand and engage with the story.
We spoke to author Valerie Braithwaite about the message of her book and the inspiration behind it.
What do you want readers to know about your life that corresponds to your book?
The story of Mistaken Identity is a race-related story about my niece, Ayesha, whose character is Tallulah, named after my mother’s doll. Ayesha, who is three and a half years old, believes she was different.
I am Ayesha’s other mother, although she has a real mum, Annette. Ayesha had her views about her skin colour. She did not see herself as black but was labelled as black under most of the ethical categories underlined in the identification box of original ethical policies. Ayesha was a mixed-race Afro-Caribbean and Pakistani and did not fall into any of the categories named in the nineties. Ayesha stood up for what she believed was not black but beige, just like her Nana Shirley, who is of mixed race – Afro-Caribbean and Portuguese – but had to accept the ethical identity policies of the 1970s.
I do not deny the phrase ‘being black’, because there is great value in being black. It is about acceptance.
What was the process of writing the book like?
First of all, I had to be open about the struggle, the journey I had to accept as being black but then being called a coconut – brown on the outside and white on the inside. It was not a nice thing to go through.
Do you have future books you are working on?
Yes, I am writing a book about my memories, named Yes, Jesus Loves Me.
What inspired you to write this story and do you want to share it?
Yes. My mother, who inspired me, sadly passed away two years ago. I believe in sharing my experiences and skills where I can help someone or people who may have had the same problem or are going through what Ayesha had to go through within the ethical identity origin policy. This story will help people understand themselves as people in society – the acceptance into their communities.
Are there any unique qualities to the book?
Yes. The book highlights the importance of diversity and the inclusion of acceptance, respect, kindness, care, and love.
Are the characters inspired by someone you know?
Yes. The characters are about my family, whom I love dearly.
Is there any special significance in the title?
The book’s title is partly named by me and partly by the publisher, novum publishing.
Are there any people you’d like to thank?
I would like to thank my publisher, novum publishing, the illustrator, Mike Bastin, and my family for making it happen.
Are you looking for more children’s books from which children can learn about the world? In this article, we present five classics of the children’s book genre that have lost none of their magic.
About the book
Title: Mistaken Identity
Author: Valerie Braithwaite
Content: Mistaken Identity is the perfect children’s book to teach young readers about diversity and equality. This book follows Tallulah as she learns about different skin colours and cultures, promoting kindness and compassion towards others. Get your copy today!
About the author
Valerie Braithwaite is a talented author and educator with a passion for exploring issues of race, identity and origin. Valerie grew up with a love of swimming and art and design.
She is a graduate of Teaching and Education at Leeds Beckett University and works as a trainee teacher at Leeds City College, where she shares her passion for education and inspires her students to achieve their full potential.
Through her work as an author and educator, Valerie Braithwaite is dedicated to understanding and exploring the issues of race, identity and origin and is an inspiration to all those who seek to make a positive impact on the world around them.
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