Acclaimed author-artist Daria Peoples-Riley invites readers to answer timely—and timeless—questions beating inside the hearts of children across America. Exquisitely illustrated, with a powerful, lyrical text, America, My Love, America, My Heart will challenge readers of all ages to examine and evaluate personal beliefs and attitudes toward the many different colors of America.

America, do you love me? My black. My brown. My pride. My crown.

What begins as a single question from a single child multiplies as America, My Love, America, My Heart sweeps across the country with every page turn, inviting in more and more children of color—and their questions. Does America love them when they speak? Or whisper? Or shout? When they stand? Does America love them just as they are?

Inspired by the questions of her own childhood, author and artist Daria Peoples-Riley has created a powerful and important book for Americans of all ages—an essential addition to every bookshelf and classroom. Her poetic text encourages readers to confront bias, prejudice, and discrimination and invites readers to reflect and respond with their own answers, while honoring the identities of black and brown children and people of color.

Daria Peoples-Riley grew up in Paso Robles, California, and is the daughter of a children’s librarian. A household of rich culture—American Indian, Cuban, French, black and Irish—Daria and her two younger brothers grew up on gumbo and red beans and rice. She has a degree in English from UC Santa Barbara. She earned her Masters in Education from Regis University and worked for ten years as a middle school teacher. She lives in Las Vegas with her basketball-coach husband, ballerina daughter, and a basketball-player son. She is the author-illustrator of This is It and I Got Next.