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Andrea Coke wears many hats, can you relate? A wife, mother of four, teacher, speech-language pathologist, book reviewer, and now, author.
Creating engaging children’s stories that embrace well-being, diversity, and inclusion is where Andrea’s heart lies. After a childhood of inserting herself into other people’s experiences, she is thrilled to bring to life books for kids that reflect their own experiences.
Andrea holds a Master of Health Science from the University of Toronto in Speech-Language Pathology, a Bachelor of Education from York University and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from York University, in Canada. All this to say: Andrea knows about communication.
Originally from the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Andrea currently lives in Canada with her family. She is the author of the award-winning Molly Morningstar book series.
Reviewed by Cheryl Schopen for Readers' Favorite
Molly Morningstar, A Doll for Me, written by Andrea Coke and illustrated by M. Fernanda Orozco, is about a little girl named Molly who has just been invited to a birthday party. The invitation said to bring a favorite doll. The problem is that Molly cannot find a doll that looks like her. She searches and searches but doesn’t have any luck finding one. Her parents seem to have accepted the idea that it’s unlikely she will find a doll that looks like her, but Molly has her own plan. Being the problem-solver that she is, she comes up with an idea all on her own.
I absolutely adored this book, and I immediately wanted to buy a box of these and distribute them to the schools I work at. I think every parent and educator should have this book. It teaches a beautiful message. Children need to feel represented in the books they read and the toys they play with. We need to celebrate and embrace diversity and inclusion. Growing up Asian, I felt very underrepresented in many things, from books to television shows. So, I understand the importance of making sure that children feel like they belong. Molly Morningstar is a girl that every child can look up to. She didn’t just accept not being able to find a doll that looks like her. She got creative, and she didn’t give up. Not only does this book have an amazing message and a one-of-a-kind main character, but it has incredibly vivid and eye-catching illustrations. I can’t explain how impressed I am with these images by M. Fernanda Orozco. And Molly Morningstar, A Doll for Me is Andrea Coke’s debut picture book? I am at a loss for words. Unbelievable. This is definitely my new favorite picture book.
