The market for children’s picture books has traditionally not focused on people of color. Feeling frustrated by the lack of options, a Milwaukee parent and author, Deanna Singh, produced the book I Am a Boy of Color in 2016 and followed it a year later with I Am a Girl of Color. Those works follow a small but growing trend for books that appeal to youth of color.
Added to the situation is how the coronavirus has upended life in America for many weeks, particularly for the African American, Latino, and other minority communities of color. Access to accurate information for adults concerning COVID-19 has been slow, and much of the federal government’s response has been confusing. Explaining to young children why staying home is important to prevent the spread of the pandemic has been a challenge for parents.