Virtual Visit: Tọlá Okogwu, author of Bím Blake’s Hot Takes

Book a FREE 45-minute webinar with Tọlá Okogwu on Friday 5th June at 1:30PM.

Follow the instructions below to sign up to Tọlá’s event!















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Details on how to access the event will be sent to your email address.

A recording of the event will also be shared the following week.

What to expect

  • Tọlá introduces herself, her books, and how she became a writer. Including her journey from blogger to bestselling author, what it means to go all in with your passions, and why she wanted to create a character like Bím.
  • Hear a reading from Book 1 of Bím Blake’s Hot Takes and dive straight into Bím’s world: secondary school, her best friends, her very opinionated journal, and a Chihuahua called Jerry who is absolutely not helping.
  • Discover what your hot take says about you. Take part in a fast, fun activity where you put your own opinions on the line and find out why Bím’s journal is the one place she gets to say exactly what she thinks.
  • Take part in The Viral Message Experiment: a brilliantly chaotic whole-group activity that explores what happens when your most private thoughts end up in the wrong hands and why it matters more than you think.
  • Ask Tola your questions in a LIVE Q&A at the end of the Visit! Submit your questions 24 hours before her event here

For kids who are into…

  • Illustrated diary-style books
  • Stories detailing relatable life moments, told with humour and warmth
  • Finding their new literary best friend
  • Pencil cases

About the book

Read a FREE extract of Bim Blake’s Hot Takes here

Hi bestie! My name’s Bím Blake. I’ve just started secondary school and here’s my hot take on it: Year Seven is a LOT harder than I thought! I’ve realised my school skirt is way too long, my pencil case is way too uncool, my boobs are way too big and the new boy (who’s the son of popstar parents!!!) is way too cute for my liking.

If that wasn’t bad enough, tell me why my dad has been acting weirder than usual. He’s been making TikToks (cringe!), experimenting in the kitchen (I call it attempted murder!) and he’s even started exercising . . . It must be tough being over forty! Add into the mix a trio of annoying older brothers (yes, I have three – pray for me!), a duo of feuding aunts, one friend mishap and a huge helping of drama and you have a recipe for chaos. Welcome to my life!

About the author 

Tọlá Okogwu is an award-winning and bestselling British-Nigerian children’s author and journalist. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, but raised in London, England, she studied Journalism and spent some years exploring the world of blogging, haircare and freelance writing before returning to her first love…fiction. Her debut middle-grade book, Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, was Waterstones Book of the Month and shortlisted for the British Book Awards. She has published three books in this series and a World Book Day spin-off, alongside a number of picture books. Bím Blake’s Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me is the first book in her new illustrated tween series.