Tag: #STEM

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Using Barbie dolls to make diverse book characters – Dreamtopia Clelsea transforms into a Fairy in the Family

I will be explaining how I am customizing Barbie dolls to make them into my book characters, Bekki the Fairy and Geeky Mikita.  I will be using Chelsea and Skipper to make my characters.   I want STEM companies to see the importance of diversity – all my girls are science superstars as well as baby-sitters.   STEM does not have to be dull and Bekki have a laugh mixxing science and magic.

Fairy doll in a package with a cellophane front that shows the doll against an imaginative package.
We will take a Sharpies to the hair

It is important for children to see themselves in books, toys, TV shows and popular culture. I love what Barbie does to represent as many girls as she can in this multicultural world. Barbie also does her bit to show girls doing science and STEM jobs. My book A Fairy in the Family Again – the School Science Competition is about babysitters doing STEM. Girls of African descent star in the book.

Black Barbie sister doll with school science accessories
STEM role model Stacie

I have got some Stacie and Skipper dolls and I will be customizing them to make them look like my STEM Lovin’ baby-sitters book characters. I am especially happy with a Stacie doll who is dressed for science. i got her on ebay and she is in Compton now! She left Redondo Beach a few days ago, so the tracking info tells me. She will arrive in ireland to do her bit to represent black girls in STEM.

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Colouring book with Stem Lovin’ Baby-Sitters is on Amazon

African wax print pattern with cartoon of three schoolgirls
Get your crayons out

My colouring book has appeared on Amazon.  It is a colouring book for little girls who might enjoy being looked after by Jada-Kai, Keysha and Ruby the STEM Lovin’ Baby-Sitters.  Little girls will like seeing what the big girls get up to. 

The baby-sitters appeared first in my book A Fairy in the Family Again.  The book tried to make a point about careers in STEM in the beauty industry.  There is along history of black women developing hair products.  

Imagine working in science to make products you love.  Our pal Mumbi has done just that.   Girls are going to have STEM careers that we have not even imagined.  

 

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Geeky Mikita – physics genius, baby-sitter and STEMINIST

Geeky  Mikita was very flattered to be invited to do an interview for the STEMINIST website.  

cute cartoon of schoolgirl with afro hair
Brainiac baby-sitter Geeky Mikita

The STEMINIST website interviews women who work in STEM.  If you ever wondered what jobs a girl might do in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths then have  a look at some of the things these women get up to. You are gonna be impressed- and maybe even a little bit envious but inspired too!

Just for example; Melissa works with sharks.  Judith went to Jordan to teach girls about water in their environment, Islin is a “weather junkie” in Alaska and she has very good advice for girls picking a career,

Here is Mikita’s quote about her heroes:

“Stephen Hawking is an impressive multi-tasker and so is Beyonce. Stephen Hawking is a cosmologist as well as a theoretical physicist and Beyonce is a mum as well as a musical genius. They are like me cos I had to babysit and do my homework at the same time.”

You can read her full STEMINIST interview here.