Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown is releasing today.

To God be the glory, the honor, and the praise, praise, praise!

Please join me in praying for the readers (younger and older) who will be discovering the beauty of every shade of brown God made and uses when designing the skin tones of His image-bearers.

Even if you have never struggled with insecurity because of your skin tone or if you have never judged someone by the color of their skin, God can use Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown to deepen your appreciation of His creativity and care for all He created and calls good, especially the people He made and loves . . . people like you and me.

However, if you have struggled with insecurity because of the color of your skin tone (like me), if anyone has ever made you feel inferior because someone said you were too dark or too light (like me) . . . then I am praying for you.

If anyone has ever taught you to prefer a lighter or darker complexion . . . then I am praying for you.

God does not show favoritism, so neither should we.

The God-breathed words of Scripture say: “When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them ‘Mankind’ when they were created.” Genesis 5:1-2

God made and uses melanin, which is brown, to create the skin tone for every person He created and loves.

He called everything He made good, according to Genesis 1:31.

This means we are all wonderfully, marvelously brown—dark to light–and the color of our skin (brown) actually connects us and enables us see one another through God’s eyes as we learn to love with God’s heart.

If we are going to make disciples of all nations (the Great Commission) and love our beautifully diverse neighbors (the Great Commission), we are going to need Spirit-empowered strength and wisdom as we process the lies we’ve been taught about how to label and divide God’s image-bearers.

Please join me in praying all readers will love God and each other, as they celebrate the beautiful hues of brown God used to design the perfect skin color for each of us.

You are wonderfully, marvelously brown! And I’m so glad God created you!

*

In Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown, you’ll join a little boy who has an invisible disability (like me) and his service dog (inspired by my service dog Callie), on a joyously affirming adventure that celebrates all shades of brown, from the darkest ebony to the lightest ivory.

From new school desks to freckles, moles, vitiligo, and a port wine stain, from Folklorico dancers to a Ukelele band, brown is everywhere around us.

God created and used brown to color the giant California redwoods, the Grand Canyon walls, busy beavers, great horned owls, piping plovers, and his image-bearers.

Everywhere that I go
I’m searching to see
something wonderfully, marvelously
brown—just like you and like me!

I thank God for the opportunity to work with Pura Belpré Honor Award artist Sara Palacios while creating Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown.

You’ll enjoy a tour of the U.S., from California to Wisconsin, from Hawaii to Texas then Tennessee.

With a little boy who has an invisible disability (like me) and his service dog (inspired by my service dog Callie), you will seek and find all the brilliant and beautiful shades of brownfrom ivory to ebonythat God created.

Readers will be encouraged to love the skin tone God chose for them and the beautiful hues of brown He chose for the skin tone of other people He made and loves.

As you explore each page in Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown, you will discover how the spectacular shades of brown are reflected in your communities and the world around you.

Love your neighbors by pre-ordering your copies of Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown today using this special access link provided by WaterBrook Kids Publishing (CLICK HERE)

Please take a moment to write a short review after you read Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown. Every review makes a difference.

Sometimes, God uses the reviews to encourage me to continue creating books that point readers to His truth and love.

Sometimes, God uses the reviews to introduce new readers to my books.

Sometimes, God uses the words of a reviewer to answer another reader’s prayer.

When you order my books for your personal library, donate copies to your local schools, churches, and libraries, buy extra copies as gifts, pray for readers and write reviews, you are partnering in ministry with me.

I can do nothing without God or your ongoing prayers support. So I want to thank you for every review.

Please let me know after you’ve written a review so I can join you in praying for the new readers who will read Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown, those who will be open to receiving a word from God as He begins a healing work in the hearts of readers around thy world.

I love you and am praying for you!  

*