Shireen is a picture book and middle grade writer.

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When she was a little girl Shireen wrote stories and gave them as birthday gifts to her family.  Because she always likes to flip things around, they were usually about good witches or naughty fairies.  She did wonder why there were no children who looked like her in the books that she read, so when she grew up,  she decided to put those characters in her own stories.

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Shireen is the mother of two brilliant teenagers and when they were little, she searched far and wide for books that represented them, but not too much had changed since she was little in terms of diverse characters and stories. Shireen decided that she would be part of the movement towards including ALL children and ALL of their experiences  in the stories that they ALL read. 

 

Shireen is passionate about reading for pleasure but also cares deeply, and advocates for children from the global majority being represented in books that are published for young people.

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She hopes that the writing she does now helps children to feel seen, even the ones who traditionally have been left out of stories.  Every child deserves to see versions of themselves on the page.

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Shireen was also an Assistant Head teacher.  As well as writing children's books, she is an Early Reading and Literacy Specialist and a Librarian! 

 

BUT, the best part of the school day is always storytime, of course! 

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