GARCELLE BEAUVAIS IS WRITING A CHILDREN’S TRILOGY
Beauvais is entering the literary world with a new trilogy written just for kids. As per a press release:
Actress Garcelle Beauvais, currently starring on the TNT series Franklin & Bash, has partnered with the publishing company Stranger Comics to launch the “I AM” children’s book series via their children’s publishing division. Between her life experience as a mother, and research when discussing children’s issues with doctors, therapists, friends and family, Beauvais’ books will address identity issues relevant to many children today. The first book, “I Am Mixed”, focuses on brother and sister Jay and Nia, and explores the thoughts and emotions shared between siblings of mixed ethnicities. The book is due out this fall. The second book in the series, “I Am Living In 2 Homes”, deals with children of divorce and is currently in pre-production. The third installment, “I Am A Twin”, focuses on the bonds twins share and will begin production shortly.
All three books in the series that are scheduled for release, will be illustrated by James Cory Webster, an exclusive artist with Stranger Comics, and a relative newcomer to children’s books. The results speak for themselves, with a book that is visually pleasing while both entertaining and educational. As Halle Berry notes in the forward for the book, “I Am Mixed” is an invaluable teaching tool that all children of all races can learn from(Source).”
Garcelle hopes that her experiences as a child and adult will help children be more comfortable in their skin. Beauvais is the proud mother of three children.
54 Comments to “GARCELLE BEAUVAIS IS WRITING A CHILDREN’S TRILOGY”
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Check out BLAXICANA It’s a mixed world #1 in the “It’s a mixed world” series by Tiffany Jones-Cisneros
Although a good idea, I DO NOt like the title one bit, “I am Mixed” implies being of more then one ethnicity means being mixed up which takes on a negative tone, DONT LIKE IT one IODA!!!!!!! If garcelle is gonna take this leap she must do it RIGHT! Come on, there’s so many better titles, “More than One”, “Not only one”,Im this and that, I am Multicultured!!! I never like Garcelle she always seem a little simple to me……
Great idea!!!! It’s about time, soooooo MANY mixed kids around the world, they are part of us the human race so good to have something about them, should have more tv shows too showing the mixed family that exists in reality. I support her and hope she continues down this line
. So many adults with mixed backgrounds that grew up not having books or seeing family like theirs on tv and it’s really time to fully accept and change.
As a biracial person myself I am so offended.Mixed is a dog breed not a race.I hope no one buys this silly book!
I love the idea of a book to help children understand their mixed heritage and be proud of all of what makes them who they are. I don’t agree with the foreword being written by Halle Berry, primarily because I hope this book encourages mixed race children to see themselves as a mix of the races they are. Halle has previously stated that she believes in the ‘one-drop’ rule and considers her daughter black. I fundamentally disagree – you should be proud of every part of your heritage!
I find this kind of view to be kind of hypocritical. It seems like a lot of people will support and defend someone’s right to identify and view themselves as mixed but won’t provide the same respect and support to other mixed people who don’t identify primarily as such. Oddly enough this is the exact thing that some mixed people complain/worry about, being pressured to identify a certain way and being criticized if you don’t.
Furthermore identifying as a part of one group doesn’t automatically excluded you from identifying as part of another. Loving one thing about yourself doesn’t mean you don’t also love another thing. Halle calling herself or her daughter Black does not mean she doesn’t love all of who she is. She’s commented on her mixed background and those experiences before. Basically she identifies as a Black woman who is mixed as opposed to a mixed woman who is part Black.
Am I misunderstanding the book? I understand given Garcelles domestic situation that a book on mixed kids makes sense, but looking at the picture it could also be not just that her children are biracial, but also she has a ‘mixed’ set of children, given that one set are with a white man and another is with a black guy? If that is the case I think its kind of an original idea, and what with all the adoptions of children from abroad this is a situation that is on the increase (especially in Hollywood!) so its nice to embrace it and explore it and understand the feelings of the children in the family having a brother/sister who doesnt look quite like them.
I get & like your original thought, but I highly doubt she referring to all her boys. She’s talking soley about the twins. The second book is about children of divorce, which her twins are & the third book is about twins.
Her eldest son is in his twenties..these books wont be much help to him.
Sherley you mentioned that you are tired of celebrities wringing books, lol. I think you are more tired of seeing that than a book about mixed children. Its OK, I get tired of stuff too. No biggie, we are allowed to be like that as humans. I like on this website that we can have a open conversation without being mean or rude. I came across by mistake.lol, glad I found it now.
You maybe right. B/c you see how on the cover one sibling is light skinned & the other is brown skin. & the description said the book is about siblings of mixed ethnicities. Meaning the siblings are of different races basically. Which makes a lot of sense. The books don’t have to be for her kids. If it was for her kids, i doubt she would have broad casted it & made it for sell. She’s making it for anyone who kids are living in a household where the siblings are of different races. This would be good for parents who adopt.
“The first book, “I Am Mixed”, focuses on brother and sister Jay and Nia, and explores the thoughts and emotions shared between siblings of mixed ethnicities.”
I”m confused as to where it says the book is about kids being bullied?
Garcelle seems like a good mom. She’s writting this for her boys and anyone else who can relate so I say good for her. I’ll buy it for my boys their not bi-racial but they love to read and it might make them more aware to other kids life and world!
Freedom of speech people! I love Garcelle and I love her boys. I am sure she wrote the book for her twins. I’d buy the books and I am open to interracial dating!
I like the idea of the book. However, I feel that the majority of racial tension and backlash comes from adults and not children. I don’t hear of very many children bullying other kids about their race (ethnicity). Most kids don’t care about race, ethnicity or anything else. They just want someone to play with. Adults are the ones with the issue and should really get a grip on reality. Maybe I’m naive, but someone should write a book about how adults ahould embrace “mixed race” individuals. *shrugs*
Damned if you do and damned if you dont. Children love to read and see beautiful illustrations. I don’t think she is trying to raise anyone’s child with these books. But in the long run, if it helps some or many children in the early stages, why not? I guess criticizing and being judgemental Is just part of the human DNA …..
Lol if Taye Diggs had written this book there would be 35 negative posts! The illustrations are cute, and I’m sure the book will be meaningful to some kid.
You know!! This book isn’t different from the book he wrote.
Thats because Taye Diggs wrote that book for himself and not for his son. Taye is not comfortable with himself and you can tell. Garcelle is comfortable with her self and wrote the book for her biracial sons, one of which that was being bullied.
Taye, like Garcelle, said the book was influenced by his own experiences and hopes it’ll help his child and other children. There’s no difference. But maybe you’re Taye’s therapist, and know his true intent and personal issues. Also, no where did I read where Garcelle said her son was being bullied… Not that it matters.
One of Garcelle’s sons was being bullied but not the other? Don’t tell me..it’s because one looks more mixed than the other.
The concept of the book is nice, but it’s been done already.
IF one of her twins was being bullied it might be for some other reason than race. We have four sets of twins in my family, all fraternal, with my mum having two sets. Their personalities are always different.
Maybe one twin is more gregarious than the other and more children tend to gravitate to that one leaving the other out.
At their age children are more apt to play with who wants to play with them and leave the quiet kid to their own devices. Some parents will see that as “bullying” when it’s not. It’s just kids being kids.
You people seem to have issue with mixed children and interracial marriages and relationships so I won’t discuss the book anymore. I think its a good idea. I love my husband and our kids will be mixed. I think Black women should be open to other races as far as dating. I have a few friends I could hook you ladies up with. Martin Luther King wanted this for us after all.
Mixed Kids? Aren’t we all? Was the name Bi-Kids taken?
I think “BEING DIFFERENT” would have been a wiser choice. Then it would get a wider audience. The fact is a black/mixed/biracial or whatever kid will endure teasing of some form based on something physical. My biracial friend looks just like me, so what difference did that make? She could have even gone with “I LOVE MY SKIN COLOR” – teaching kids to love who they are no matter the racial identity..
Agree, but I don’t know one Black family; mine included; where all the skin complextions are the same, unlike most white people where the only differences might be hair/eye colour.
Can’t we just teach our kids to love themselves; regardless; since in life there will ALWAYS be someone who doesn’t like them?
I’m so terrified of this new generation and society. Our children and teens today will have to adapt and except these new life changes from same sex marriages, bi-racial gender, and African American children being adopted to white families. We are defiantly living in “Revelations”. I feel so blessed to have lived and embraced the 70’s and the 80’s. I hope these books will give comfort to these young children and teens that are growing up during these times.
I love this! Go Garcelle!
Guess I’m going to be the kill joy person…
1..every celebrity does not need to write/publish a book.
2..parents do not need a book written by a celebrity to make their children aware of who they are. It may help the child, it may not; but what good is a book if it’s not implemented in their daily life, which is done by the parents.
Finally, it’s a good idea & I like the illustration in the book.
I understand your point, however, there are so many children that are of mixed backgrounds, being bullied. The book is a tool that will help the parents help their young children understand what it is they’re going through and how deal with it. Celebrity or no celebrity. Doesn’t matter who the author is. Garcelle decided to write a book based on her sons lives. She just so happens to be a celebrity. Children need more books and if she’s good at it, why not?
I love books, started reading at three but I’m not understanding how the books can help an issue such as “mixed kids being bullied”. Parents/families are the ones responsible for teaching children to stand up for themselves regardless of skin colour or nationality. I used to be the smallest girl amoung my agemates until I hit 11 and my parents are the one who taught me how to deal with a bully…verbally…and “other” ways.
Verbal bullying. Not physical bullying. Being made fun of by other kids that are not like them. Things of that nature. Some people find it hard to explain certain things to their children. The illustrations and just the book in general can be used as a tool to make it easier on the adults and also for kids at that age to understand more clearly. I think that all of her books and ideas are great.
Isn’t that almost every kid? I was bullied and I’m not biracial.
Not disagreeing with the idea of the book, but I don’t believe it’s going to change anything. The mind set of children ‘bullies’ comes from their parents. I do not see how here read this book can help a child who is ‘mixed’ better understand why they are who they are.
Besides, everyone gets bullied. I got bullied for being smart, light skin, having a gap, having a visible birth mark, having small feet, being a tomboy, being prettier than half the girls in the class (yes that was what she told the teacher), etc. I don’t know a child who has not been bullied.
I see the big picture for her book ideas. Sesame Street started it back in the day. They had a song called “We All Sing the Same Song”. Look it up. I too got picked on. Threatened to have my hair cut off because it was long, curly and wavy. Been told I was all that because I wore certain things. Not at Jax and Jaid’s age though. I was older. Living in the Bronx. I was also born in 1980. Things have changed A LOT since then. It’s starting young now. Do you really think they get the bullying from just the parents? Nope! Maybe in some cases, but not all. Children pick up habits from everywhere. Not just in the home. Daycare, school, television or just the people outside. You just never know who this book might help. I will support anything that’s going to help our youth.
But whom are these children learning that behavior from but adults? They are following other children who are getting it from adults. Like someone said children just want to have someone to play with, no matter the color, gender, or hair texture. If adults were more open minded & acted that way in front of all children, those children would pick up on it.
The mixed kids I grew up around weren’t bullied. The black boys (and some white) loved the light skinned, mixed girls, with the wavy hair! And the girls loved the lil mixed boys, especially if he had light eyes. I think kids might benefit more from books that aren’t about race, but that depict characters of all races just getting along, being friends, etc… Adults make things a bigger issue than the kids do.
I never seen mixed children bullied. They were admired but never bullied. I did see darker toned kids get bullied, sadly. Or girls with little hair. I got bullied for wearing glasses and for being skinny, til I went to an all white school. It makes you stronger….now I am a bombshell! Yep, and the ppl that teased me look terrible. LOL
I agree. Sometimes it takes hearing an outside source to make you feel a certain way. A parent can talk to their mixed race child & try to tell them how to handle it. But if the parents aren’t mixed (1 white parent, 1 black parent) how are they suppose to relate to their child? This book will help the kids see they aren’t the only kid going thru it. The only reason people are downplaying this book is b/c of the bi-racial issue IMO. When a book was posted on here about being comfortable being black, people were praising it & saying it will be good for kids. (double standards) lol. This is no different then a book telling an adult to be comfortable in their skin (Weight/body type).
Bullying is a broader issue and many children who are not biracial are bullied… but I just said that, didn’t I? IMO we need to be focusing on teaching tolerance for others different than us across the board: white, black, biracial, skinny, fat, poor, etc.
So many mixed kids being bullied? I disagree. Mixed kids are not bullied anymore than non-mixed children.
This should be titled “How to make money for dummies”,written by dummies.
I love this. I will definitely buy these books, for sure! The Illustrations are FABULOUS!
Wow.. I love this. It is so great when we learn and share. Why else are we alive really? Whether it is to help someone get thru something or just to be able to relate. Good job Garcelle.
This is such a great idea! I love interracial marriage, I’m in one myself. Our kids will be biracial so it will be nice to have some books for them and the world. This is s exactly what Martin Luther King wanted, us to start mixing and getting along. Great idea, Ms Beavais!
Lol I guess…
lmao I pretty sure “The Dream” wasn’t for us to fornicate with Caucasians, but I get what you’re saying, Life.is.great.
I I am married to my husband, I am doing nothing wrong. Martin Luther would be very happy with us that we didn’t see a race when we met. We liked each other starting dating, fell in love. Love is a beautiful thing so yes Martin Luther wanted this for our people and white people. Interracial couples are a great thing. He wanted us to k start mixing and getting along with each other. MLK is smiling down on my hubby and I, with proudness!
You seem extra proud of the fact that you’re in an interracial marriage and that you’ll have biracial children (you’ve mentioned it in several posts now). Maybe you feel this makes you special?!?! Interracial couples are not abnormal. Seems you should be more proud of the man you married for his characteristics, and not focus so much on his race. As for your offer to “hook us ladies up”, no thank you! I’m married to an amazing chocolate man and I’m good with that. Please get over yourself.
I’m not against interracial relationships, trust me, most of my family members are in interracial marriages, just an F.Y.I. I believe, no pun intended, Martin Luther King, Jr. would be proud that African Americans have come so far, but I don’t believe that his dream was for us to marry different races that was a bonus to us getting alone and becoming equal to Caucasians. African American’s and Caucasians marry ALL THE TIME, there’s nothing unique or special, in a sense, about your relationship or marriage. LOVE IS BEST WHEN IT’S COLOUR BLIND…you should see your relationship and married as “normal” ’cause that’s how our society is, now, which is beautiful.
@PlainMean..exactly what I was thinking. It’s like she feels she won a prize only because he’s white. I’m not married but I thought one should feel that way about their husband period.
@EvelinaRae..agreed on your thought about MLK. His dream wasn’t for the race to procreate but to treat one another equally. Although, I don’t think he’ll be too upset about it.
Well whoopty doo.Btw you are getting rid of your own race I hope you know.
Obviously she knows nothing about MLK.He wasn’t fighting so that blacks can have babies with whites.He just wanted people to be treated equally and with more respect then what they were getting.
LOLOLOL. This posts reads “I gots me a White man. My babies fin’to have good hurr!!!” In any case, it doesn’t matter why she is so proud of her mate, the fact is, she is HAPPY and you people should not be trying to rain on her parade. She didn’t say anything about your partners, so if her motives bother you, ignore her.
Congrats Life.Is.Great. I hope you live out all your dreams.
Im for anything that would help foster a sense of security and well being for our children.