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Giving a voice to children of biracial and multiracial backgrounds.

Title: My Rainbow Family

Author: K. R. Vance

Grade or Focus: Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd Grade

Number of Words: 562

Synopsis: My Rainbow Family tells the story of Drake, a child with a black mother and a white father. Drake takes us into his world and shares about his unique family. He is the youngest in a family of five children that includes a brother and three sisters all of which are of varying races. His brother is C herokee, and one of his sisters is Hispanic and the other two sisters are African. Growing up in their unique multicultural environment, Drake learns to speak Spanish from his eldest sister. Drake and his siblings grow up with a positive attitude about differences in themselves and the people around them. When children at school ask Drake how it is possible for him to have a black mother, his response is, “families come in all colors”. The story also touches on single motherhood and co-parenting as Drake talks of his father who does not live with the family, but is involved in Drake’s life. My Rainbow Family is based on the life of author, K. R. Vance, and her five children.

Author Biography: Born in New Orleans and raised in San Antonio, TX, Vance attended private school from elementary to middle school where her mother was its first and only black teacher. She transferred to public school after begging her mother and soon faced her first experiences with negative racial comments from black peers who did not consider her “black enough”. She began writing about her experiences in an effort to overcome the pain. In high school, she received an award for her poem, "The Girl In My Mirror” about the pain of rejection by her “own race.” In spite of becoming a mother at 19, she attended college and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in theology. Married, divorced and widowed, and now happily remarried, she continues to raise her children to love and appreciate others. She plans to write a series of children’s books based on multicultural family life to raise awareness.

Other: Author K. R. Vance has been named “Best New Author” by Barnes and Noble in Marietta (Atlanta),GA the Town Prado Center Store, and be featured in their Author Showcase on October 13, 2007. Vance was chosen along with six authors and is the only children’s author chosen.

Winner of the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce Ambassador

of the Quarter July 07 - Sept 07

“Some interracial families struggle with negative racial comments, harassment and even the loss of economic and emotional support from disapproving family members. “The children of these interracial marriages need a voice for affirming their identities, the right words to defend and protect themselves from others who do not appreciate differences and to help them feel proud of their mixed heritage. This book gives them that. It shows a unique and loving family situation that is a total reflection of today’s society.”

-K. R. Vance

"I was raised in a blended family, I am a step mother, and each day I teach students who are from mixed ethnic backgrounds. I applaud you for addressing this for our children. Thank you for stepping out and being a voice for all of the children in the world. I pray that you are successful in what you are doing. " - Erika, second grade teacher

You can order My Rainbow Family through Ingram's Books in Print Database, directly from the publisher at www.authorhouse.com or through the book order hotline at 888-280-7715. * typical ordering time 7-10 business days for shipping.

Aslo available thru amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Now available in Barnes and Noble stores, B. Dalton, Gottwal's Books on Russell Pkwy in Warner Robins, and The Perry Bookstore on 907 Carroll St. in Perry, GA.