Jael Richardson publishing new book for kids, Because You Are

Jael Richardson is an author, the founder and the artistic director of the Festival for Literary Diversity (FOLD) and the books columnist for Q on CBC Radio.

Richardson, who is from Brampton, Ont., is also the author of the nonfiction book The Stone Thrower, which was adapted into a picture book of the same name.

Her debut novel, Gutter Child, was published in 2021 and was a finalist for the 2021 Amazon Canada First Novel Award.

• Jael Richardson's debut novelGutter Childis a dystopian look at Black identity and belonging

Richardson is back with a new picture book called Because You Are. Check out the cover and interior art below.

Because You Are is a children's book about self-esteem, inner beauty and making a difference in the world we live in. Featuring illustrations by Toronto-based character designer and visual development artist Nneka Myers, the picture book was originally conceived of as a letter to Richardson's younger self with a focus on being joyful and loving herself as a young Black girl.

"I wrote Because You Are because at a very young age I was focused on the wrong thing. I was worried about what I looked like and how I compared to others. I found myself feeling less than all the girls I saw around me at school, in magazines, and on TV," Richardson told CBC Books in an email.

"I wrote this book to remind kids that they are the result of big dreams, that they are capable of changing the world, that what they do in this world is far more important than how they appear.

The story is intended to inspire children to recognize and build their self-worth, to dream big and to make a difference in the world.

"I'm 41, and while I can now say that I love who I am, that wasn't the case until recently. I never could have imagined starting my own charity and writing books that other people might read, and I wish I had believed that for myself earlier. I want other kids to know right from the start that they are beautiful and that what they do for others is the most important thing."

Because You Are is a picture book for ages 4-7 and will be published on July 19, 2022.