It'll Be Irie
Staying True to Yourself

I believe one of the most important things we can learn to be in 2023 is the best authentic version of ourselves. Americas melting pot is beautifully diverse with so many people from different places and wonderful things to learn from each culture. Unfortunately, now-a-days, many people are suffering......more

There is no greater message than being told it’s okay to be true to yourself. Irie is moving to America with his family and he becomes hyper focused on being an American. He follows the fashion, slang and pop culture but loses his Jamaican roots in the process. It isn’t until his new friends at scho......more

When Raymond and his family move to America from Jamaica, he plans to learn everything he can. He reads books, researches clothing, and even learns some hip American slang. He practices making pizza until he gets it just right. When Raymond finally arrives in America and spends his first day at scho......more

Cardinal Press is a new-to-me publisher that strives to publish “realistic, representative books for socially thoughtful children”. I’m excited to share a new book from them, IT’LL BE IRIE about a young boy who immigrates to America from Jamaica, based on the author’s own parents’ experiences. Raymon......more

As a nine-year olde from northern England, I would visit my dad in America during the summer. Like little Raymond, my futile attempts to ‘fit in’ made me, awkwardly, ‘fit out.’ It was only after the end of summer return to Leeds when all my lads said to me “You speak like an American” did I realise......more