LoLo Smith is a children's book author on a mission to positively reshape the way children of color see themselves. As an elementary school teacher, she was dismayed with the lack of children's books with characters of color. So she writes books by, about and for African American and Hispanic children to address the lack of diversity in books. She is filling diversity gaps in children's literature and doing her part to normalize the appearance of African American and Hispanic girls and boys in books. LoLo has written 10 books for children. She has taken her commitment a step further by developing a literacy program, Living Storybook, through which she produces books with photos of African American and Hispanic children. She says that when children see photos of themselves in a book, it becomes a powerful incentive for them to read.      

LoLo's LIVING STORYBOOK project has been implemented in many District public and charter schools in partnership with Do The Write Thing of DC. Every school year for the past 10 years, LoLo's books have been personalized with photos of African American and Hispanic children. Hundreds of children have been served through this project.