I had the honor of celebrating World Read Aloud Day 2020 at Clinton Avenue School in New Haven, CT this week! Students at Clinton Avenue School acquire a love of learning and a sense of global citizenship with a project and inquiry based learning model aligned with rigorous instruction and high expectations. 60 bilingual students joined my visit as I delved into chapters of "Niyah Zuri & The Pharaoh's Throne," reading aloud to inspire their creative young minds! "The twins sound like me," Anthony shouted, to which I responded, "And just like the twins, you keep pushing and keep believing in yourself!" After wrapping my visit, I roamed the halls to track down the classroom of recent Milken educator award winner Ms. Lauren Sepulveda - I crashed her class to extend my congratulations to this elite Connecticut educator (keep inspiring your students to learn and connect with the world around them!).

Thank you to Principal Kristina DeNegre and Vice Principal Patricia Gantenbein for inviting me to share in this literacy celebration. Special thanks also to Jennifer Quirk, Library Media Specialist, for liaising and coordinating of this event!

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Happy World Read Aloud Day!!!?#WorldReadAloudDay #BlackHistoryMonth #AuthorVisit

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"Keep reading & see where the story leads you..." #WorldReadAloudDay #BlackHistoryMonth #AuthorVisit

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I had an impactful visit at Fred D. Wish Museum School in Hartford, CT to wrap up the week-long celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day! The mission of Fred D. Wish Museum School is to L.E.A.D. their students to LEARN, EXPLORE, ACHIEVE, and DISCOVER their dreams and goals. I had the pleasure to connect with an all-boys after school program discussing my book "Niyah Zuri & The Pharaoh's Throne" and the importance of diversity and representation in the books we read as well as how to create individual goals to achieve your biggest dreams. My visit wrapped with a writer's workshop, as I led the group to collaborate on their very own short story, which will be presented at their next Literacy Night event. A big THANK YOU to Caitlin Brexley, Literacy Coach (Hartford Public Schools) and Gelda St. Juste, Community Schools Site Coordinator (The Village for Families & Children) for coordinating the visit!

 

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Creative Juices ?⚡️... #AuthorVisit #WritersWorkshop

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I had the esteemed pleasure to be a guest expert on "Parenting Beyond the Headlines" podcast hosted by Dr. Amy Alamar and emmy-award winning journalist Sarah Cody. Listen to the full podcast episode below as we discuss the importance of traveling with your children and exposing them to world cultures!

LISTEN HERE: "Talking About the Importance of Exploring with Your Children" With Special Guest: Anna Nyakana, Author of Niyah Zuri and The Pharaoh's Throne

 

I was honored to be a guest on the “Chillin with Julien" Show filmed at the legendary Smash Studios (NYC) and hosted by the talented Julien Guiteau, who aims to “interview inspiring individuals to inspire others.” 

Dig into my interview where we discuss my book "Niyah Zuri & The Pharaoh's Throne" and the importance of diversity, how creativity affects one’s future course in life, generational wealth, the evolution of characters in my book, AND MORE including the long awaited title of my second book in the Niyah Zuri series COMING SOON 2020! My sincerest appreciation to Julien Guiteau for selecting me as an "inspiring individual" and for spotlighting me on his platforms to spread the Niyah Zuri message! Watch my interview or listen to the full audio podcast below!

 

Full Audio Podcast Interview- Click Here! Talk Show/ Podcast - Chillin With Julien

Instagram - @chillinwithjulien

Twitter - @chillinwjulien

"Meet Anna Nyakana of Niyah Zuri & The Pharaoh’s Throne in Connecticut"

ATLANTA, Georgia - September 3, 2019 ---

EXCERPT: Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if …

I am honored to been interviewed by award-winning journalist, radio host, and publisher Karen Hunter on Sirius XM Radio’s “The Karen Hunter Show.” Named one of the “Heavy Hundred” (The 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts In America) by industry bible Talkers Magazine, Karen has blazed a trail, bringing more action and less talk to the medium. She not only has some of the most provocative interviews with some of the biggest movers and shakers in the world, she is also a change agent—challenging her listeners to participate in the success they want to see and be. Thought-provoking and cutting-edge, KHS features candid conversations on the topics of the day and segments with guests across a variety of mediums to empower listeners.

A big thank you to Karen Hunter as well as her producers and staff for a thought-provoking segment! Watch the full interview below to hear our discussion of my book "Niyah Zuri & The Pharaoh's Throne" and my mission to change children’s perception of reading while bringing diversity to the forefront!

 

         

Check out my interview on ABC’s “CT Style” with hosts Ryan Kristopher and Sarah Cody. Thank you for spotlighting my book “Niyah Zuri & The Pharaoh’s Throne”  & the impact it’s making in the classrooms in CT. Looking forward to returning for a behind the scenes look at my Authors Visits!

 

     

Watch my author interview on NBC’s CT Live! with hosts Taylor Kinzler and Jimmy Marlow as I share the Niyah Zuri message of diversity, heroines, science, & history! Thank you for adding me to the roster of the “best of” Connecticut and New England!

 

Thank you to the staff and crew of News 12 Connecticut’s “Our Lives” for a wonderful Author interview, especially Emmy-Award winning host Gwen Edwards! Watch the interview below as we discuss my book “Niyah Zuri & The Pharaoh’s Throne” and my mission to amplify diversity in children’s books while inspiring kids to become confident readers!

 

 

Beat of CT: Diversity Through Kids Books  HARTFORD, Connecticut - April 11, 2019 --- Local Author Anna Nyakana tells Nancy all about her new childrens book, and how she feels its diversity can help kids get a sense of belonging.…

I had the honor of wrapping Women's History Month with 80 students at Capital Prep Magnet school in Hartford, CT. This Pre-K through 12th grade charter school aspires to create a community of lifelong learners who will be assets to their community by working towards Social Justice. During our deep dive into Niyah Zuri & The Pharaoh's Throne, we talked about overcoming challenges, aspiring to make impacts in our community, and the importance of diversity. Thank you to Principal Dr. Kitsia Ferguson for your support and Joaner Weidman, Projects and Program Support Facilitator, for organizing this event!

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”Your zip code does not define you; you are boundless...” #ChildrensBooks #Education #WomensHistoryMonth

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“Sometimes things take an extended period of time but you put the work in & you get results. If you try something once & it doesn’t work, that doesn’t mean you give up...” #ChildrensBooks #Education #WomensHistoryMonth

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I had a great discussion on HPATV’s Hartford Community Leaders show this week, highlighting my children’s book Niyah Zuri & The Pharaoh’s Throne and the impact it’s making in the Greater Hartford community. Hartford Community Leaders began on May 1, 2014, as a community – based planning process bringing together residents, local organizations, police department and local politicians in a forum to come up with viable solutions to violence. Special thanks to hosts Donald Padgett and Lakia Shavon Lightner for spotlighting me in honor of Women’s History Month and recognizing my work with CT students. Watch my interview below!