NY Times Bestselling Author, Nancy Redd Brings Her Literary Creativity To Families Far & Wide

Finding the Gaps: Nancy Redd’s Mission to Fill the Bookshelf

Nancy Redd—a Harvard graduate, former Miss Virginia, and New York Times bestselling author—did not set out to write children’s books simply for the sake of storytelling. Instead, her journey into children's literature was born from a desire to address the "gaps and holes" she noticed in representation, specifically for Black families and their everyday rituals.

As a mother of two, Redd realized that the books available to her children often failed to reflect their authentic lives. Her transition from writing adult non-fiction, like the body-positive guide Body Drama, to children's picture books was a natural evolution of her career-long mission: normalizing diverse experiences through visual representation.

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The "Bedtime Bonnet" Inspiration

Redd’s debut picture book, Bedtime Bonnet (2020), was sparked by a relatable parenting struggle. Her daughter, Li'l Nancy, was resistant to wearing her silk bonnet at night.

• The Problem: Redd noticed that her daughter didn't see anyone else wearing a bonnet. In cartoons and media, Black female characters were often depicted going to sleep without any hair protection, which Redd knew did not reflect the reality of many Black households.

  
  

• The Goal: Redd wanted to show her daughter that hair rituals—like wearing bonnets, durags, and wave caps—were not just for "old people" like her grandmother, but were beautiful, multi-generational traditions.

  
  

• The Impact: By showcasing an entire family—from a brother in a durag to a grandfather with a shaved head—Redd turned a nightly chore into a celebration of culture.

  
  

"I wrote Bedtime Bonnet because when I was a little girl, I felt like the only person in the whole wide world who wore a bonnet to protect my curls." — Nancy Redd

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Redefining "The Real Santa"

Following the success of her debut, Redd turned her attention to the holiday season with The Real Santa (2021). Growing up in Martinsville, Virginia, Redd’s family often had to travel far to find ornaments or decorations that featured a Black Santa.

• The Inspiration: The story is based on her son, August, and his curiosity about what the "real" Santa looks like.

  
  

• A Joyous Reflection: Redd aimed to create a story where a Black Santa wasn't a rarity but a central, joyous figure. The book features a variety of Santas—on decals, mailboxes, and ornaments—reflecting the inclusive environment she creates for her own children.

  
  

• Authenticity: For Redd, the book was about teaching children to be their authentic selves, even when the world is still "catching up" to that reality.

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Promoting Body Positivity for Young Readers

Redd’s commitment to representation extends beyond cultural traditions and into health and wellness. Her most recent work, The Real Body Manual (2024), serves as a "user manual" for the next generation.

• Visual Education: Just as she did with Body Drama, Redd uses real photography to help tweens and teens understand puberty.

• Inclusivity: The book is designed to be gender-neutral and judgment-free, tackling everything from acne to self-care. Redd was inspired by her own children entering their "tween" years and the realization that there was still no comprehensive, photographic guide to help them navigate their changing bodies.

  
  

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A Career Built on Representation

Whether it is a story about a missing bonnet or a guide to puberty, Nancy Redd’s work is anchored in the belief that seeing yourself in a book changes how you see yourself in the world. By filling the gaps she found on her own children's bookshelves, she has provided a toolkit for families everywhere to celebrate their own unique "real" lives.