'My Grandma Is A Lady' Gives Children Representation Says Author

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — The Brookhaven Public Library, 1242 N. Druid Hills Road, hosted children’s book author Jalissa Pollard, who held a special reading of her new book, “My Grandma Is A Lady” on Dec. 14. Pollard says that African American Catholics are a minority, just like the dark-skinned images of angels, saints and an African American Jesus in the church.

Her first book seeks to give young children of color representation as they flip through the colorful pages following the life of Amelie, a young African American girl who chronicles her memories of her grandmother's participation and membership in the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Knights of Peter Claver, a historically black lay organization of Catholics.

The book reached the #1 Hot New Release on Amazon twice in the categories of Children’s Christian Values Fiction and Children’s Christian People and Places Fiction. It's published through Melanin Origins LLC and illustrated by Hatice Bayramoglu.

Inspired by her grandmother Mildred Charles, Pollard said this book was personal in that it mirrors her own childhood. Raised in Louisiana by Charles, Pollard and her sister were raised Catholic. She said she noticed early in life that she didn’t see dark skinned images.

“I didn’t see myself in church, in the stain glass, I didn’t see myself in the literature,” said Pollard, adding that her book has two goals.

“I want [children] to see themselves in a faith-based text,” she said. “I’m just trying to take away some of the anonymity, and coming from the south you feel like you are a minority so this is just showing, ‘Hey we are strong in numbers, I see you, we are literally all saying the same prayer and it’s wonderful to know that thousands, millions of us are doing it.'”

Becoming a children’s author wasn’t a lifelong dream, Pollard said, but when she became a teacher seven years ago, she became passionate about targeting the younger audience of readers. She shared that she was always an avid reader and as she grew older, she wrote poetry too. As she described, she’s always been “a self-proclaimed English nerd.” In 2016 she co-wrote a chapter in “Can I Teach That? Negotiating Taboo Language and Controversial Topics in the Language Arts Classroom.”

“Everyone was so excited about the chapter,” Pollard said, “but this is my first book with my name. I said let’s do a children’s book about my life, my history, what I saw through my eyes.”

The book is special to her because she draws from her own childhood, watching her grandmother in the Catholic church and at home.

“My grandmother inspired me, just witnessing the demonstration of her faith,” said Pollard.

Publishing this book was her way of honoring her for what Pollard says was a sacrifice Charles made by taking in her and her sister when their mother passed away.

“I realized how much I owed her and how much admiration I had for her for protecting us, keeping us on the right foot, hair done, she didn’t have to do all of it, but she did.”

Pollard hopes to turn “My Grandma Is A Lady” into the first book of many. The goal is to create a series that follows the main character as she witnesses her first baptism, experiences her first communion, and more. It goes hand-in-hand with the miniature Amelie doll collection she created two years ago.

“Each doll represented a different right of passage, a signal of grace, a different sacrament in the catholic church,” she explained.

This book project came with a personal lesson, one that Pollard wants others to remember as they embark on their own journey.

“Your dreams are closer than you think,” she said. “The stars align for you whenever you make a decision.”

Her book tour will continue in February for Black History Month. Pollard will be in Houston, Texas followed by Fort Walton Beach Florida. Stay up-to-date with her through social media at @Jayybouqet on Instagram. Purchase a copy “My Grandma Is A Lady” through Amazon.