Building bridges through diversity in children’s books Artist Credits: Aaron Boyd, Nicole Tadgell, Randy DuBurke

COLOR-BRIDGE BOOKS is an independent children’s book packaging and consulting company. We specialize in (but are not limited to) multicultural books. Whether you are a publisher, retailer, corporate client, or individual, COLOR-BRIDGE BOOKS is uniquely qualified to custom edit, design, and produce your board books and novelty books, picture books, easy readers, first chapter books, fiction, or illustrated nonfiction. In 2003/2004 COLOR-BRIDGE BOOKS created and packaged the Just For You! Books—a unique series of 24 paperback beginning readers about African-American children, all written and illustrated by people of color— for Scholastic’s Teaching Resources department. In 2004/2005, among other projects, we produced the multi-book Cuddle & Read series — read-aloud preschool picture books about animal characters for Sterling Publishing, a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble. Bernette Ford founded COLOR-BRIDGE BOOKS LLC in January 2003 to package a wide range of children’s books for publishers to the trade and supplementary school markets. Prior to 2003, Ms. Ford was a Vice President at Scholastic Inc., where she served for nearly 13 years as Editorial Director of Cartwheel Books, the preschool imprint she founded at Scholastic. She also served as VP/Associate Publisher at Grosset & Dunlap/The Putnam Publishing Group, the first African-American to be named a VP at a major children’s book publishing house; Editorial Director at Golden Press/Western Publishing Company; and in various editorial positions at Random House Books for Young Readers, where she began her career. With more than 30 years of experience successfully publishing quality books for children, Ms. Ford brings to her book packaging and consulting company editorial expertise, market savvy, and a proven track record of success. With a vast number of contacts among talented children’s book professionals, including authors, illustrators, and designers, her reputation for quality and integrity — and on-time delivery — is unsurpassed in the children’s book industry. Now focused on increasing diversity in the world of children’s book publishing, Ford is actively seeking, mentoring, and working with people of color who might not otherwise have easy access to writing, illustrating, editing, designing, and producing quality books for children.