Taye Diggs is an actor whose awards include an NAACP Image Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. His performance credits include motion pictures (How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Chicago), stage (Rent, Wicked), and television (The Good Wife, Private Practice).

Shane W. Evans has created pictures for over 50 books for children, including Why?, Mixed Me!, and My Friend! He has worked with authors including Shaquille O'Neal, Andrea Davis Pinkney, and Holly Robinson Peete. His awards and honors include Jane Addams Honor Book awards for Lillian's Right to Vote and We March; and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom, all of which he wrote and illustrated. Shane also received an NAACP Image Award for his collaborative work with the Peete family on My Brother Charlie.

"Mike's unerring sense of self ("I'm a beautiful blend of dark and light") and the powerful love that surrounds him make this a rewarding, valuable read for families of any makeup." --Publisher's Weekly, starred review

"[A] well-written, fun story of acceptance, friendship, and love. The text, colors, and design make this a good choice for read-alouds, but there are many details in the artwork (usually containing the word "mixed" or a synonym thereof) that make it good for one-on-one sharing." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Some kids call him "Mixed-up Mike," but the protagonist makes clear that he isn't mixed-up at all--just mixed . . . Mike's confidence in his own appearance and coolness as well as the way he proudly embodies diversity, including a certain level of androgyny, make this a refreshing read. Evans' integration of rough-textured fabrics into lively and colorful mixed-media illustrations will make readers want to reach out and touch them." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"For the millions of mixed-race Americans who have to endure the constant questioning of their identity, [Mike] has an answer: "I'm a beautiful blend of dark and light, / I was mixed up perfectly, / and I'm JUST RIGHT!" . . . The story's joyful message will resonate with multiracial readers and their families, leaving them with the cheeky takeaway: if you have a problem with me, it's your problem." --Booklist