Rock the Boat to mark Black History Month with new poetry title

Rock the Boat, part of Oneworld, has acquired a picture book that explores race and identity by US poets Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko.

Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes and Friendship tells the story, through poems, of a black boy and a white girl who do a project together.

Gill Evans bought UK rights from Rebecca Mancini at Rights Mix and will publish in October to coincide with Black History Month and Poetry Month.

Evans said: “We like to tell children that we are all the same and hope they will grow up without prejudice, but children see differences and not to recognise or allow discussion of difference is to allow old messages and prejudices to flourish. This honest and accessible book offers a contribution to a real, supportive and fearless conversation.”