A couple of years ago, a mutual friend introduced me to the author Cara Meredith. While we munched on pizza she spilled all sorts of generous writerly wisdom. I’m so grateful for that lunch, and for the friendship that’s formed over the years since.
This is why I’m so gosh-darned excited that we have book-launch twins. My book-baby, Uncluttered, officially lands in the world on February 1. Cara’s kind endorsement is on the back cover. Hers shows up February 5 and I’m dying to get my hands on it.
What better day than Martin Luther King Day to preorder a book about love and racial justice? If you want to read a thoughtful, intense, sometimes-hilarious, other-times-weep-worthy tale, you can preorder The Color of Lifehere.
In addition to putting this great book into the world, Cara also blogs regularly over at Patheos. If you have young kids or grandkids and are looking for some diverse reads to help talk to them about race, here’s what Cara has to say:
Graphic courtesy of Cara Meredith
This last week has found me engaged in a slew of emails, from book launch events, to conversations with marketing and publicity, to dialogue with a host of individuals who share a common passion for getting diverse literature into the hands of our children. Even though the context of the featured quote (from my book) is different, it is a “matter of mothers and fathers everywhere, of flesh and blood, of adoption and circumstance, embracing each and every one of our children.”
And one of the best ways we grown-ups can embrace our collective village of children is by reading books that feature children of color.
Although this list is not exhaustive by any means, here’s a list of some of our favorites, including a bunch of recommendations from Helen Lee, a wise friend I’ve been listening to for awhile now.
Courtney Ellis 