After her son was born, JoAnne Pastel couldn’t find children’s picture books that showed racially diverse families like hers. She saw lots of animal characters and lots of light-skinned kids.

“But I saw nothing that looked like my son,” recalled Pastel, an African-American who lives in Orono with her German and Norwegian husband.

So, Pastel decided to write her own stories. The former stockbroker put together a draft of an ABC book about boating and showed it to her friend Kakie Fitzsimmons, a single white mom who is also raising a biracial son.

The two Twin Cities women thought they were on to something. They spent several years researching the market and honing ideas for a book series and other products featuring a multiracial group of kids who are involved in sports and outdoor activities. This year, they self-published the first three books introducing Bur Bur, a sporty little boy who goes fishing and to the ballpark with his Caucasian dad and dark-skinned mom.

“My son is going to face times when people question his ethnicity,” said Fitzsimmons, who lives in Apple Valley with her 6-year-old son. “And I think it’s important for him to have role models and see people who look like him.”

Bur Bur is named for Pastel’s son’s imaginary friend. “Bur Bur’s Boating ABCs,” “Bur Bur Throws Out the First Pitch” and “Bur Bur’s Fishing Adventure” are available for $14.95 at www. burburandfriends. com and can be special ordered at Borders. A fourth book, “Anna’s Hiking Adventure,” will be out next month.

Maja Beckstrom can be reached at mbeckstrom@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5295.