CLEVELAND — *Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.
Representation matters in all shapes, colors, sizes and even career paths. That is the message Cleveland native, Valerie Thompkins, is hoping to spread with her debut children's book, "Girls Like Me."
According to Thompkins, "Girls Like Me," was created to encourage young readers to "begin exploring occupations at an early age." Throughout each page, children are exposed to an array of career opportunities.
"It is essential for all children to see themselves in leading roles in literature, and to learn to celebrate differences from a young age," explains Thompkins.
As a first-generation college student who now works in corporate America, Thompkins recalls feeling unprepared as she embarked on her journey to pursue higher education. The author says she wishes she had been exposed to more career paths prior to selecting her major in college; those personal experiences prompted her to write the book.
The easy-to-read picture book, made for children ages three to 10-years-old, will be available on Amazon starting Thursday, June 17.
"It’s a good development book. Simple words, but really good pictures that help you learn as your read," said Thompkins.
Thompkins, who was an avid reader as a child, rarely remembers a time when the characters looked or even resembled her or those closest to her, which she says inspired her to create the book's main character.
"It was meant to inspire and to be motivating, but it’s not just for black kids, it's for all kids so that all kids are used to seeing minorities in different spaces—It’s truly meant for everybody," she explained.
The book was illustrated by Abria Das and the cover shows a young Black girl dressed as a doctor with a stethoscope draped around her neck. Her hair is wild and free-- yet perfectly in place-- as the stars align above her head surrounded by classroom essentials such as a book, ruler, laptop and pen on a purple backdrop.
“I specifically wanted her to have natural hair, just so people can get used to seeing that natural hair is professional hair," explained Thompkins. "Just proving that little girls like her belong in all of those spaces."
Thompkins says she has plans to continue writing, catering to other genders and tackling topics such as financial literacy.
For more information on the "Girls Like Me" book or to purchase upon its release on Thursday, click here.
Editor's note: The video in the player above is from a story published on Feb. 22, 2020.