Distinct market need for children’s picture books representing biracial and multicultural children
We are excited to share that Bur Bur and Friends’ has been getting a lot of media attention since our national product launch in late July!
Most recently, coverage includes articles in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota Parent, Toy Directory (TD) Monthly and numerous local TV interviews.
The Senior Editor of Parents Magazine also noted the Bur Bur and Friends’ book series as a ‘must have, must do, must buy’!
Subsequently, JoAnne Pastel and Kakie Fitzsimmons, the founders of Farmer’s Hat Productions and the Bur Bur and Friends product line, were honored to receive the following e-mail from a professor at the University of Minnesota recognizing the need for their business concept.
Thank you, Professor Mazingo for your positive feedback and to all others who are checking out and supporting what Bur Bur and Friends is all about!
____________________________________________________________________________________
From: Sherrie Mazingo [mailto:smazingo@umn.edu]
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 12:41 PM
To: info@farmershatproductions.com
Subject: Thank You
I just want to say “thank you” to JoAnne Pastel and Kakie Fitsimmons for
publishing these books.
For several years at the University of Southern California, and for the
last 8 years at the University of Minnesota, I taught a course initially
titled “Minorities and the Media,” later retitled (as awareness
heightened), “People of Color and the Media.” Biracial and multiracial
students were always a significant part of the enrollment in each
class. Over the years, we consistently discussed the fact that people
of color were broadly absent from representation in textbooks at all
levels and in all media including news, information and advertising
content.
As one result, I found that the students were often confused about their
identities, their true fit as members of American society, and that they
frequently lacked full self-esteem as well.
I have consistently taught my students that much more needs to be done
in terms of biracial and multiracial representation across all forms of
media, and I have taken steps on my own to address this issue.
You have taken an extremely important step toward correcting this
oversight. Again, I just want to thank you, strongly encourage you to
continue, and offer any assistance if needed. I, along with many others
I am certain, consider your work vital.
Best,
Sherrie Mazingo, Ph.D.
Professor and Cowles Media Fellow (ret.)
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455
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