We Need Diverse Books: The Movement

I was so thrilled to find this organization, which supports creating more diversity in books. That's a subject that is very special to my heart.

I wrote Tessalation! with an Asian-American character because I wanted my niece, Piper, who is Chinese-American, to always have a book that looked like her. I'm dedicating Tessalation! to her.

Just how important is this to me? When my sister had her first son, I looked around for some books to get him. Sadly, none of them looked like him. So I took one of my favorite books, "I Love You Through and Through," and I used a black Sharpie to color in his hair. All 32 pages.

But as a white author with an Asian character, I know I have a lot to do to ensure that the presentation of this story comes off right. That's why I'll be betatesting my book with families off all stripe before it goes to the printer.

About We Need Diverse Books:

We Need Diverse Books™ is a grassroots organization of children’s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.

Does your child need books that look like them?