By Kathy Chouteau
Richmond resident and author Rayna Best has written a childrenâs book called
Animated Like Me with a resounding message about self-acceptance and inclusion. Bestâs 36-page book, which was published in paperback this past summer and appeals to children ages four through 12, was inspired by her eldest child who struggled with inclusion and fitting into societal standards considered to be the norm.
When Bestâan African American womanâembarked on a search to find books like
Animated Like Me, she was shocked to find that the topic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) wasnât widely discussed, especially in communities of color. It was especially astonishing, given that the number of children diagnosed with ADHD overall in the U.S. is estimated at 6.1 million, according to a 2016 National Survey of Childrenâs Health (NSCH) survey.