A diverse network of US authors, publishers and independent book store owners is fighting for more representation in literature for children and young adults, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and amid a recent rise of anti-Asian hate crimes. As she reads her book featuring diverse characters in front of a young audience, African-American writer Carolyn Hunter aims "to teach children that we're all human... and we all deserve to be treated well." Ramunda Young, who owns a bookstore specializing in Black culture, says children's books are among her top sales, adding that demand increased "when George Floyd was murdered." Yet only a third of children's books published last year in the United States depicted non-white protagonists, according to Alexa Patrick, the programs director of a DC independent publisher. But Vietnamese-American author Young Vo feels "hopeful:" "books like mine are being published, I think that's a huge step," he tells AFP. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES