Paul Kellam – illustratör

When the school talent show creates an issue between her and her friends, little Kiki learns what it means to follow your heart and be a leader. Based on a true story from the life of Grammy-nominated singer and actress Kierra Sheard-Kelly, this inspiring picture book helps kids discover how to best use their God-given gifts and what it means to be true to yourself even when it’s not the popular thing to do.

The school talent show is a big deal, and Kiki is thrilled when the popular girls ask her to perform with them. But when the song her new friends choose turns out to be one Kiki’s parents don’t want her singing, she must decide if it’s more important to be popular and please her friends or speak up and do what she knows is right for her. 

Kiki Finds Her Voice helps children ages 4-8:

Learn how to stand up to peer pressureEmbrace their differences and love what makes them uniqueBetter understand how their faith plays a part in their everyday lives

 

In addition, Kiki Finds Her Voice is ideal for:

birthday, back-to-school, Christmas, and holiday giftsbedtime and story time readingencouraging faith development, and building character and self-confidence

56th NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work – Children (2025)#1 New York Times Bestseller!From award-winning actress and mental-health advocate Taraji P. Henson, You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) shows kids the great things that can happen when we approach others and ourselves with empathy, patience, and love.In this debut picture book from Taraji P. Henson, quirky, stylish and a bit off-the-cuff Lil TJ is ready for her first day of school. But when she gets there, TJ finds that everything she does is a little different than everyone else and she’s standing out in all the wrong ways. Once TJ’s classmate Beau notices, he relentlessly teases her. TJ is filled with anxiety and doubt until she recalls some important words of wisdom from her Grandma Patsy. When she looks inside to her own creativity and personality, she figures out how to help herself make new friends! —and helps someone else too!You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) is the perfect read for:Easing back-to-school jitters and setting a course for the new school yearHelping children ages 4-8 to overcome anxieties and embrace what makes them uniqueClassroom and library story time, as well as bedtime readingPromoting mental wellness and learning socialization skills, embracing the importance of standing in their own uniqueness, and promoting friendship over bullying. Includes author’s note with references for parents and teachers.Taraji P. Henson is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe winning actress, writer, and producer. She started the Boris Lawrence Henson foundation in 2018, which promotes mental health awareness and provides resources and services aimed at tackling the mental health crisis.

56th NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work – Children (2025)

#1 New York Times Bestseller!

From award-winning actress and mental-health advocate Taraji P. Henson, You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) shows kids the great things that can happen when we approach others and ourselves with empathy, patience, and love.

In this debut picture book from Taraji P. Henson, quirky, stylish and a bit off-the-cuff Lil TJ is ready for her first day of school. But when she gets there, TJ finds that everything she does is a little different than everyone else and she’s standing out in all the wrong ways. Once TJ’s classmate Beau notices, he relentlessly teases her. TJ is filled with anxiety and doubt until she recalls some important words of wisdom from her Grandma Patsy. When she looks inside to her own creativity and personality, she figures out how to help herself make new friends! —and helps someone else too!

You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) is the perfect read for:

Easing back-to-school jitters and setting a course for the new school yearHelping children ages 4-8 to overcome anxieties and embrace what makes them uniqueClassroom and library story time, as well as bedtime readingPromoting mental wellness and learning socialization skills, embracing the importance of standing in their own uniqueness, and promoting friendship over bullying.

 

Includes author’s note with references for parents and teachers.

Taraji P. Henson is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe winning actress, writer, and producer. She started the Boris Lawrence Henson foundation in 2018, which promotes mental health awareness and provides resources and services aimed at tackling the mental health crisis.

A beautiful, celebratory and joyful book of bedtime stories.Written and illustrated by Black creators, with a forewordby Candice Brathwaite, Bedtime Stories showcasesa curated collection of tales from Black history, based onimportant figures and events from around the world. Each story isthe ideal length to read at bedtime as well as any moment whenyoung readers are looking for an inspirational read! Features one young reader's winning entryfrom the Cocoa Boy and Cocoa Girl magazinescompetition An empowering and celebratory giftPerfect for any child wanting to learn more about history'suntold storiesA beautiful keepsake book - a gift for a lifetime Written by Ify Adenuga, Ryan Crawford, Alex Falase-Koya, MahamedHashi, Ashley Hickson-Lovence, Nansubuga Isdahl, Jade Mutyora,Reggie Nelson and Wendy Shearer.Illustrated by Lucy Farfort, Anastasia Magloire Williams, JadeOrlando, Amanda Quartey, Paul Kellam and Richy Sanchez Alaya.

"A beautifully written book, bristling with magic... I loved it." Cressida Cowell, Children’s Laureate& author of How to Train Your DragonA stunningly imagined, action-packed fantasy adventurefor fans of Nevermoor, Neverwhere and MortalEngines, from bestselling and award-winning author PatriceLawrence.Step into a London lit up by the Elemental spirits:the fiery Dragons, the airy Fumis, the watery Chads and theearthbound Magogs.But humans have been causing chaos for centuries, trampling throughthe landscape trailing noise, mess and pollution. What if theElements could slow down this new world... or stop it all together?The revenge-fuelled Shepherdess, who moves between the everydayand the supernatural London worlds, is the perfect weapon.She brings a sleeping sickness down on the city withthe destruction of society in her sights.Marisee and Robert are the Elemental Detectives chasing the cluesto avoid catastrophe: they must face the ghosts of Hyde Park,the monstrous coiled snake of the Serpentine, and a whole host ofother fantastical creatures in their mission tostop the Shepherdess and prevent London slumbering for all eternity... Big, bold, future classic storytelling for a new generation.A London where magic sparks just beneath the surface - this bookis set to ignite young imaginations.The page-turning, empowering, heart-racing first book in a majornew series.  More praise for Elemental Detectives:"Breathtaking, captivating, and magical. ... I really couldn’tput it down" Reya, The Week Junior’sSummer of Reading 2023"I loved reading about a re-imagining of London with so muchinvention and energy. The world-building is well...out of thisworld. Patrice Lawrence is amongst the greatest voices for youngpeople writing today. I'm honoured to be a peer of hers."- Alex Wheatle, author of Cane Warriors"BRILLIANT... history and fantasy woven magnificently intoa thrilling, magical adventure" - Sophie Anderson,author of The House with the Chicken Legs"A fantastic adventure, packed with rich world building andstunning elemental magic." - Peter Bunzl, author ofCogheart"Wow - The Elemental Detectives is a cracking fantasy.Clever, inventive, and pacy, with wonderfully drawn charactersand a breathless plot. I want to read more!" - BaliRai, author of Mohinder's War"The Elemental Detectives is a rip roaring magical adventure...Patrice Lawrence has done a marvellous job of building an imaginativeand creative mythology which lurks just under the citystreets." Catherine Johnson, author of Freedom"The Elemental Detectives is a richly imagined, inventiveand immersive fantasy adventure." - L.Norry, author of Son of the Circus

When the school talent show creates an issue between her and her friends, little Kiki learns what it means to follow your heart and be a leader. Based on a true story from the life of Grammy-nominated singer and actress Kierra Sheard-Kelly, this inspiring picture book helps kids discover how to best use their God-given gifts and what it means to be true to yourself even when it’s not the popular thing to do.The school talent show is a big deal, and Kiki is thrilled when the popular girls ask her to perform with them. But when the song her new friends choose turns out to be one Kiki’s parents don’t want her singing, she must decide if it’s more important to be popular and please her friends or speak up and do what she knows is right for her. Kiki Finds Her Voice helps children ages 4-8:Learn how to stand up to peer pressureEmbrace their differences and love what makes them uniqueBetter understand how their faith plays a part in their everyday lives In addition, Kiki Finds Her Voice is ideal for:birthday, back-to-school, Christmas, and holiday giftsbedtime and story time readingencouraging faith development, and building character and self-confidence