Story Time with Dr. Kay!

Join us on Saturday, August 16 at 11 a.m. for a cozy kids' storytime with local author Dr. Nekaiya Jacobs Pratt! Dr. Nekaiya will be reading her latest book, The Magic Bonnet: Zoe's Hospital Adventure and exploring the importance of accepting your inner and outer beauty even during scary times.

Books will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Dr. Nekaiya will be available to sign copies!

Dr. Nekaiya "Kay" Jacobs Pratt is a South Carolina native and Chicago-based physician who now calls the historic Bronzeville neighborhood home. A pediatric critical care doctor and passionate health equity advocate, she was inspired to write The Magic Bonnet: Zoe’s Hospital Adventure during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she began bringing inclusive hair products from home to help care for hospitalized children with textured hair. That simple act grew into a system-wide effort, expanding access to culturally conscious hair care across hospitals in six states.

Her debut children’s book is the culmination of that journey—a vibrant story that celebrates identity, resilience, and the magic within. More than a hospital story, The Magic Bonnet is a tribute to Black hair and the strength it carries from generations past. Through Zoe’s adventure, young readers are reminded that their hair is not just beautiful, but powerful—rooted in culture, history, and self-worth.

Dr. Kay is proud to share this story with the Southside of Chicago, where the community and culture continue to inspire her work and her voice.