Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children Board books - 2006

Myles Pinkney, along with his wife Sandra Pinkney, is the creator of the NAACP Image Award winning Shades of Black, along with A Rainbow All Around Me, and Read and Rise, a collaboration with the National Urban League.

Myles illustrated each title in a dazzling multicultural photo essay style. They show the diversity of skin color and other characteristics of African American children, and feature appearances by their own children, Myles ("Leon"), Charnelle-Rene and Rashad.

Myles Pinkney is a free-lance photographer who, in addition to collaborating with his wife, has illustrated books by celebrated children's author, Nikki Grimes. Myles graduated from Marist College with a BA in communications; however he has been studying photography since he was a child.

Myles and Sandra Pinkney live in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Sandra Pinkney, along with her husband Myles, is the creator of the NAACP Image Award winning Shades of Black, along with A Rainbow All Around Me, and Read and Rise, a collaboration with the National Urban League.

Each title was created in a dazzling multicultural photo essay style. They show the diversity of skin color and other characteristics of African American children, and feature appearances by their own children, Myles ("Leon"), Charnelle-Rene and Rashad.

Sandra received her CDA in Early Childhood Development from Washington, and went on to become the owner and director of a daycare in Poughkeepsie, New York. She is also actively involved in the organizations, which aim to help the development and enrichment of young children, including the New York Association of Early Childhood, and the National Black Child Development Institute.

Myles and Sandra Pinkney live in Poughkeepsie, New York.