Why?: A Conversation about Race

Description

A conversation about race. "Daddy?" "Yes, my sweet boy." "Why are those people shouting?" "Our people are shouting because we need to be heard. We need to be heard." Why? is a question asked by children daily, and in this stirking and timely story, it begins a straightforwardand challenging conversation between children of color and the adults in their lives. Why are the buildings burning? Why are people marching? Why are they crying? Taye Diggs has written a beautiful, powerful, and poignant story that peers through the eyes of a child as they struggle to understand why these events are happening. Why? distills the conversations many children and adults are having about race, injustice, and anger in communities throughout our country, and gives them context that young readers can connect with. Heartfelt and deeply piercing illustrations from Shane W. Evans will leave a lasting impact on readers of any age. One that will hopefully lead to more conversations, change, and peace within our own communities and the world.

Taye Diggs is an actor whose credits include motion pictures (How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Chicago), stage (Rent, Wicked), and television (Private Practice, Murder in the First, Empire, All American). He is also the author of Mixed Me!, Chocolate Me!, and I Love You More Than . . ., published by Feiwel and Friends. He lives in Los Angeles and New York City with his son. Shane W. Evans is the illustrator of numerous award-winning (NAACP Award, Coretta Scott King Award) books for children, including We March, Underground, Mixed Me!, Chocolate Me!, and I Love You More Than. He is based out of Kansas City, MO and travels extensively to gain inspiration. Shane can be found in Dream Studio, LLC, where he creates and serves the community. Dreamstudio777.com.

"Diggs makes these gutting conversations loving, plainspoken, and accessible to children. ... The question-and-answer format, the hallmark of parenting, helps the characters process large thoughts and huge problems, and yet find some paths to solutions."--School Library Journal, starred review "Evans's surreally colored, fluid illustrations add depth and emotion to this intergenerational narrative with a hopeful ending."--Publishers Weekly