March is an exciting time for a sports fan. March signals spring training, free agency, and the greatest basketball tournament in the world. I for one love March! In March many people are catching a groove. Many are into the hard long stretch of Lent. They are fasting, making spiritual connections, and self-reflecting. March signals that Springtime is among us and the bite of the winter is slowly and gracefully exiting “stage left.” March is madness in the sense that many things are happening all at once – and it’s exciting. Below are a few of my favorite March happenings:

Spring Training:

Many people and organizations are preparing for the summer. I am in my version of Spring training by preparing another book to be published. I am currently working with a wonderful illustrator to bring Grace’s universe to life. In this book, Grace will introduce you to her friends and their families. It has always been my hope that Grace, her friends, and her experiences champion a new genre of children’s books that create a safe place for less common, marginalized, and culturally diverse families.

Free Agency:

College Football and the NFL are marketing geniuses. January brings the NFL playoffs and the College Football Championship. In February, the Super Bowl is the greatest event of the month. It’s clear because big-name and small-name companies alike spend an unprecedented amount of money on Super Bowl ads. Companies know they are going to reach eyes and ears they may otherwise miss throughout the year. Not to mention we all want to know who is singing what at the big game. Once the champagne is popped by the fans of the winning team, sports fans begin to turn their attention to other sports. For those of us who follow and like basketball, All-Star weekend is up next. For many who just finished “waiting all day for Sunday Night,” it is the worst three weeks ever. Then March kicks the door open and NFL free agency is in full effect. Now here we see who or what is of value to the owners, players, and most importantly the fans. I compare my situation to free agency. Currently, my first book “Ma, Where’s Mommy” is a free agent. “Ma, Where’s Mommy” is available for any potential owner. Those who currently own a copy know the value of the book and the franchise it will start. They are fans of not just the book and its content but the family it introduces us to. There is value in free agency. Many teams become contenders in free agency. Make your child’s library a contender by ordering your copy of the book TODAY!

March Madness:

As a Howard Alum, I watched every second of my 16th-ranked school go head to head against Kansas, a number 1-ranked school, in a one-and-done tournament. Let that sink in. You only get one chance to advance. What determines the rankings? The rankings are determined by record, strength of schedule; and for a team like my Bison, whether or not they win their tournament before the madness – the MEAC Championship. Imagine if you will, a tournament of books where we rank all the children’s books. How would you determine the seeds? Easy money says if a book hasn’t sold more than a certain amount of copies it cannot be considered a #1 seed. However, I value books not by how much they sell, but by the story it tells. Is this story unique? Well, the market is flooded with superhero stories, animals that are given human-like qualities, scary stories, and stories that talk about sharing and being kind to others. These stories are timeless, ageless, and in the minds of little kids who grow up to then have little kids, priceless. But what about the kids who want to see themselves in the books they read? Kids like Grace? Can she see herself in the Berenstain Bears, a personal favorite of mine? Were there two bear mommies? Can “Ma, Where’s Mommy” win a one-and-done tournament against the timeless classic of the Berenstain Bears? I would say the one thing “Ma, Where’s Mommy” has that the Berenstain Bears do not is diversity and inclusion. It does not depict a family one way with Papa Bear, Momma Bear, and baby bears. In “Ma, Where’s Mommy” we have Ma, Mommy, and child. Future books in this series will highlight the diverse families and experiences of Grace and Grace’s friends. I can say that my child would choose the book they thought closely resembled who they are and the issues they face in their children’s book tournament bracket. My point is that all books matter, but the value placed on them is up to the reader.

Join Grace’s universe. “Ma, Where’s Mommy” just might burst your bracket and open your and your children’s eyes to a world where they, their friends, and their stories exist.

You can purchase a copy of “Ma, Where’s Mommy” at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Google Books.