West Bromwich youngsters become published authors

Two talented nine-year-old writers from West Bromwich have officially become published authors after their inspiring stories were selected for a prestigious national collection.

Gabriella Gayle and Dakshir Singh are among just 20 young writers from across the UK chosen to feature in Our Stories Our World. The book holds the distinction of being the UK's first nationally curated, child-led anthology. Edited by eight-year-old literacy advocate and Guinness World Record holder Jayce Joyce, the anthology has been launched during the National Year of Reading to promote friendship, equality, and inclusion while encouraging children to swap screen time for story time.

One Big Awesome World

Gabriella Gayle’s story, One Big Awesome World, draws directly from her everyday experiences in her Sandwell school classroom. Her colourful and humorous tale follows a young girl who discovers the vibrant family heritages, languages, music, and traditions of classmates whose families come from Jamaica, Pakistan, Italy, China, and Nigeria.

The story centres around a school Diversity and Inclusion Week where children teach each other customs and dances.

Reflecting on her motivation, Gabriella shared: "I wanted to write a story because everyone is different and that's what makes the world interesting. I love learning about other people's cultures and traditions because you always discover something new. If everyone was exactly the same, life would be really boring."

My Kind Neighbourhood

Meanwhile, Dakshir Singh looked to his local community for inspiration in his uplifting story, My Kind Neighbourhood. His work paints a joyful picture of modern Britain by celebrating community spirit and the ways neighbours of different faiths and cultures support one another throughout the year.

Dakshir’s narrative highlights heartwarming acts of kindness, such as neighbours exchanging gifts at Eid and Christmas, gathering together for Diwali fireworks, and participating in the Sikh tradition of langar—where free community meals are served during Vaisakhi.

"I wanted to write about my neighbourhood because everyone is kind to each other," Dakshir explained. "We all celebrate different festivals together, and that's what makes where I live so special. I hope my story reminds people that even if we have different cultures or religions, we can still be good friends and enjoy celebrating together."

Inspiring the Next Generation

The Our Stories Our World anthology is the cornerstone of Books from Children to Children, the UK's first child-led literacy movement designed to empower young people to "Read. Write. Lead."

Anthology editor Jayce Joyce praised both West Bromwich authors for their powerful insights. "Gabriella's story reminds us that some of the most important lessons about kindness and inclusion come from children themselves," Joyce said. Turning to Dakshir's submission, he added: "Through a child's eyes, he reminds us that kindness, respect and friendship are far more important than the things that make us different."

Calling All Young Storytellers

To build on this success, the movement has officially launched the Books from Children to Children Summer Writing Competition. Parents, teachers, and carers are being encouraged to help children put down their digital devices and pick up a pen over the school holidays. Winning entries from the summer competition will be professionally published in the 2027 edition of the anthology.

To find out more about the competition guidelines and the entry process, visit jaycesworldoflearning.co.uk/competition/.