Nicole Todd Bailey is an adoptive mom who writes from both her and her children's perspectives. Starting her intercultural exploration as a student in France and Russia, and then as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa, Nicole has lived on three continents, traveled through 46 countries, and witnessed countless times the value of being a cultural relativist. Her children are from Ethiopia and the Marshall Islands, and they teach Nicole lessons every day about their experiences as people of color, living in the margins of society, and forging their unique paths. She hopes that sharing some of their lived experiences in children's books will help others who find themselves in a diverse and vibrant but often lonely lane of life. For more adoption insights and multiracial stories from Nicole and her children, check out laneofourown.com or follow them @laneofourown.

Multicolored Monono is a metaphorical tale reflecting the confusion, loneliness, and courage that children can experience when they are dissimilar to their peers. The title character, Monono, is a one-of-a-kind multicolored crayon who longs to belong in the classroom but faces exclusion and unkindness from the traditional crayons who are part of matching sets. Ultimately, Monono finds a path to happiness by drawing on inner strength, individual talent, and a partnership with another unique classroom member.