Actress Garcelle Beauvais signs deal for children's books

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - Haitian-American model and actress Garcelle Beauvais will dig into her own background for the life lessons she is planning to share in a series of children's books.

A statement released Monday says the 45-year-old "Franklin & Bash" star has an agreement with Stranger Comics for three books that will "address identity issues relevant to many children today."

Pictures: Children's books by celebrities

The series will be called "I Am." The first book, "I Am Mixed," is coming out this fall. It will tell of a brother and sister and their mixed ethnicities. Beauvais was born in Haiti and moved after her parents' divorce to Massachusetts with her mother.

A second book will be about children of divorce. Beauvais' parents were divorced, and she has been married twice. She had a son with her first husband, Daniel Saunders, and twins with her second husband, talent agent Mike Nilon.

The mother of three got her start as a model and is best known for her roles on "The Jamie Foxx Show" and "NYPD Blue."