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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chelsea Woodward, Publicist
cwoodward@penguinrandomhouse.com
 

CROWNED WITH GLORY
By Dorena Williamson
A WaterBrook Hardcover | On Sale 2/8/22

The narrative around Black hair hasn’t always been a celebratory one. In fact, Black women and girls have faced hair discrimination everywhere, from schools to the workplace to the Olympic Games. In CROWNED WITH GLORY (on sale 2/8/22; WaterBrook), bestselling author Dorena Williamson flips this harmful narrative on its head by telling a beautiful story of self-love, affirmation, and God’s love for His unique creations that will inspire children of color and enlighten people of all ethnicities. 
 
Through the story of Azira, a young Black girl full of spirit and talent, Williamson highlights the Black hair experience—from combing out big hair and visiting the salon to wearing a satin hair wrap for bed and braiding hair to swim. As Azira rocks her God-given beauty and expresses her uniqueness with fun hairstyles, she grows in confidence and experiences the joy of self-love.  
 
Written in bold and lyrical verse, Williamson draws on scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 11:15 (“…if a woman has long hair, it is her glory”) and Psalm 8:5 (“You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor”) to offer this ode to Black hair and Black girl joy. 
 
Illustrated by Shellene Rodney, this delightful resource is ideal for children ages 4-8 and their adults who enjoy stories that celebrate diversity and positive self-image. After reading Crowned with Glory, young readers will be empowered to always embrace and love exactly who God created them to be.
 
In an interview, Williamson can speak about:
- recent events of hair discrimination and why we need more representation and resources that celebrate Black hair
- how the book was inspired by her own lived experiences as a Black woman, as well as the experiences of her sisters and daughters
- literature is a great way to build a more inclusive community and open a window into understanding other cultures
- how to inspire children’s self-confidence and help them avoid shame and comparison
- how her faith has empowered her to be a bridge builder
 
For more information, visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dorena Williamson is a speaker, bestselling writer, church planter, and bridge builder whose work has been featured in Christianity Today and Crosswalk. She writes stories that celebrate all colors, build cultural bridges, and motivate lasting change for children and their parents. Williamson’s previous titles includeColorFull, ThoughtFull, and GraceFull. She and her husband, Chris, have four children. Visit her website at www.dorenawilliamson.com. 
 
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:
Shellene Rodney is a Toronto-based illustrator with a passion for representing children through various stages of life. Of the many avenues she uses to express her ideas, illustrations and storytelling have always been central, and her characters are often closely tied to personal experience.

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