Nancy Johnson James is a writer and educator based in Oakland, California. She has an MFA in creative writing from St. Mary’s College of California. Her poetry has appeared in several print and online publications. Her desire is to create children’s literature that is inspiring and liberating.

In easy-to-read rhymes, Brown, the Many Shades of Love, shares a palette of browns that a child sees in his relatives. Describing the varied skin tones of his immediate and extended family, the narrator speaks in an appreciative, age-appropriate tone. This book provides a view of skin tone that celebrates a multitude of hues while serving as a subtle, effective refutation of the idea that being family means looking the same. Ages 3–5.

Constance Moore is an artist and educator based in Oakland, California. She has an MFA in interdisciplinary art from Goddard College. She loves teaching elementary school art. She shares her students’ love of color and hopes to transmit their spirit and freshness into her work.