IPromise Format: Paperback

Catherine Hernandez’s debut novel Scarborough was shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award, the Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction, and the Trillium Prize, Ontario’s richest literary award. Her latest, I Promise, is a beautiful tribute to the resiliency of diverse families.

Featuring tender-hearted illustrations by renowned artist Syrus Marcus Ware, I Promise captures with love and honesty the intimate moments of parenting in all their messy glory -- from dealing with a kid who doesn’t want to brush their teeth to looking under the bed for monsters to cuddling after a long day. This charming picture book showcases the many shapes, sizes, and colors that families come in, emphasizing that every queer family starts with the sacred promise to love a child.

Catherine Hernandez is a proud queer Filipina femme, Navajo wife, radical mother, award-winning author, and the artistic director of b current performing arts. She is an accomplished playwright and has served as playwright-in-residence at Shaw Festival Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Carlos Bulosan Theatre, Blyth Festival Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and Nightswimming Theatre. She is the author of Scarborough, which won the 2015 Jim Wong-Chu Award; was shortlisted for the Toronto Book Award, Edmund White Award, and Trillium Book Award.

Syrus Marcus Ware is a Vanier Scholar, visual artist, activist, curator, and educator. Syrus’s work explores social justice frameworks and black activist culture. Syrus is a core-team member of both Black Lives Matter Toronto and Blackness Yes!/Blockorama. Syrus has won several awards, including the TD Diversity Award in 2017. Syrus is a PhD candidate at York University in the Faculty of Environmental Studies.