New UK picture book aims to represents interracial families

Spring 2018 marks the publication by Dog Horn Publishing of Lennox Benson’s seminal new children's picture book: The Biracial Butterfly. The boutique press and the London-based author joined forces to crowdfund this timely children’s book, which explores interracial family life in modern Britain.

The Biracial Butterfly is an illustrated children’s book that explores diverse family life through the eyes of a mixed race child named Skyler. As we journey with Skyler through the book, we witness as he explores his identity and assembles his personal cultural jigsaw. Illustrated in vivid colour by artist Hari Conner, this is an important and much needed addition to the children’s book market.

'I definitely believe it’s important children see themselves in books!’ says Lennox, in response to the demand from readers for the title. ‘I found that I didn't see enough books with characters of diverse backgrounds when I was a child. On the rare occasion I did, I was obsessed with the book's characters of colour. I had found a reflection of myself in a book which helped form my sense of identity.

'This is why I believe varied representation of minorities in the media is so important. We need to see ourselves in a positive light to be reminded that we are valued members of our society.'

Children’s books are improving slowly in terms of representation and diversity. But there are few books that explore life as a mixed race person in modern Britain and this lack is even more marked when we look at children’s books. Lennox’s book seeks to address that lack and aims to be one of a handful of pioneering children’s books bringing diversity to the forefront of our bookshelves.

Publisher Adam Lowe, himself mixed race, says, ‘We want biracial children to feel they can be the protagonists of their own stories and to see their lives reflected in the literature they read.’

The money raised via Indiegogo will be used to market the book and broaden access to the book for key audiences: namely schools, libraries and healthcare. The exclusive first printing went out to backers from 2 April, and the second printing is now making its way through the usual retail channels, including Amazon, WH Smith’s, Waterstones and independent shops across the country.

Over the coming months, Lennox will also go into schools to deliver readings and assemblies. This will also generate an opportunity to get copies into the hands of the children and parents who'd appreciate them most.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Lennox Benson is a first-time author from London. He was born to a teacher and a doctor in Lagos, Nigeria and migrated to London, UK at the age of two. Raised by his mother, he was gifted many books and became a keen reader. At school he excelled in art and creative writing, and secretly nurtured a dream to write a book of his own one day. After working with a number of Black mentors in the performing and creative arts, Benson finally wrote The Biracial Butterfly as a response to the lack of positive role models for young mixed race people in fiction.

Hari Conner is an award-winning comic artist and illustrator based in London, UK. Hari is a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, and has worked on a wide range of projects from murals to magazines, often combining traditional drawing skills with digital methods.

The Biracial Butterfly is out now.

The Biracial Butterfly
Author: Lennox Benson
Illustrator: Hari Conner
ISBN: 978-1-907133-55-8
Price: £9.99
Age range: 5-7
26 full-colour illustrations
32pp, 229 x 152mm (portrait)

Contact: Adam Lowe at sales@doghornpublishing.com.

Founded in 2003, Dog Horn Publishing is an independent boutique publisher. Publishing ‘books with bite, writing with risk’, Dog Horn publishes the very best of cutting edge and socially astute literature. The Biracial Butterfly is published under its new Pup Ear Books imprint for children.

Dog Horn Publishing
45 Monk Ings
Birstall
Batley
WF17 9HU

This release was published on openPR.