A Child of God

A rhyming, read-aloud book with warm illustrations conveys a comforting, faith-filled message from a Black father and mother to their children who see visual representations of their faith, but question what it means when they don't see their skin color, their physical features, or their gender portrayed.<P>"What about the angels, will they stop and stare, when they see that I may not have their same color hair?" asks the girl.<P> In soothing verse, the father assures his children that everyone looks like Jesus and the angels by the things they do. As the family walks through their neighborhood, the father points out the beauty in God's creations, from flowers, all unique and different, to all the children in their community "each with skin a different shade." He reminds his children that pictures of faith such as angels were drawn by someone and encourages his children to draw their own pictures so angels look like all of us.

Mauli Bonner is a songwriter and film director from Las Vegas, Nevada.<P> Chantel Bonner is a University of Southern California alumni and works as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist providing trauma-informed care to children in foster care.<P> The Bonners are married and live in Southern California with their two children, Geo and Ari. They are dedicated to ensuring equality and justice among marginalized communities. In their spare time, they provide economic resources and musical outlets to underserved and disabled children internationally through their nonprofit, Lift Up Voices.<P> Illustrator Morgan Bissant is based in New Orleans. She has always had an admiration for anything animated, and cartoons, comics, and anime have been some of her biggest inspirations. She started drawing as a child by copying cartoons and other things around her that she thought were cute. As she got older, she attended a professional art school, eventually deciding to pursue a career in illustration and design. She received a degree in Fine Arts at Louisiana State University. She focuses on characters with various skin tones and distinct features, seeking to bring ideas to life and inspire others through illustration.