Because I Am Series
Children's Picture Book
Date Published: 07-09-2024
Publisher: Let Your Light Shine Press
Join our hero as they discover the wonder hiding in everyday moments. From planting seeds to chasing butterflies, each page bursts with colorful surprises that will make you giggle, gasp, and go "Wow, that's beautiful!"
But wait, there's more! This book doesn't just show beauty – it helps you find the beauty in YOU. Because guess what? You're not just beautiful, you're beautifully YOU!
So, are you ready to uncover the real meaning of beauty? Grab this book and let the adventure begin! Who knows what amazing things you'll discover about yourself along the way?
Remember, true beauty isn't just skin deep – it's YOU deep!
Other Books in the Series
I’m a Genius Because I Am
Because I Am… series written and illustrated by Azizi Tuere
An adventure that shows possibilities are endless when you believe in yourself.
Being a genius is more than just knowing the right answers. It’s having imagination, seeing opportunities, trying new things, and being curious. Being a genius isn't about being the smartest or getting everything right, it's about treating each day as an adventure to explore, dream, create, and make a difference in the world.
A story to ignite the innate creativity and limitless potential within every child.
I’m Grateful Because I Am
Because I Am… series written and illustrated by Azizi Tuere
An adventure that shows appreciation for life’s daily offerings.
Every day is a brand new opportunity to be happy and feel good about the world. Being thankful isn’t only for big things like vacations and parties, it’s being thankful for the birds in the sky, a meal prepared with love, a warm bath, and laughing with friends. Having gratitude is appreciating how beautiful life is and being thankful for being YOU!
An inspiring story that celebrates the quiet beauty in everyday moments and the joy in expressing gratitude.
I’m Patient Because I Am
Because I Am… series written and illustrated by Azizi Tuere
An adventure that grows kindness, strength, and understanding.
Being patient isn’t just about waiting around—it gives us new challenges to grow kindness, strength, and understanding. Patience helps you to be kind to yourself when you don’t get something right the first time around, or when you need to listen to a friend’s long story that they are excited to share with you. Patience allows you to discover more about yourself and the world around you, one calm moment at a time.
An inspiring story that shows the magical moments that patience brings to each day.
I’m a Winner Because I Am
Because I Am… series written and illustrated by Azizi Tuere
An adventure to remind every child of their inherent worth.
Being a winner is not just about winning trophies or never making mistakes. You’re a winner when you face challenges, when you get up after falling down, when you have courage to try something new, or work to overcome your fears. Winning is when you get better at being the best version of yourself every day!
An inspiring story about the victories in everyday moments.
Interview with Azizi Tuere
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
You know what completely changed my view of children's literature? Re-reading Dr. Seuss as an adult! Particularly "The Sneetches" - it hit differently, like finding a hidden door in a familiar house. What I once saw as just a fun story suddenly revealed layers of wisdom about acceptance, prejudice, and human nature.
The experience taught me that children's books can be these amazing treasure chests of truth, each reading revealing new gems of understanding. That's what I strive for in my own writing now - stories that grow along with their readers, offering new discoveries with each visit.
How do you select the names of your characters?
In the "Because I Am" series, I made the intentional choice not to name our main characters. I wanted every child who opens these pages to see themselves in the story, to think "Hey, that could be me!" It's like creating a mirror that reflects back each reader's own unique light.
For my upcoming "Playground Parables," though, the characters sort of named themselves! Each one emerged with their own personality, and their names just whispered themselves to me. But that's still our little secret until they're ready to meet the world!
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
Oh, there are little sprinkles of magic scattered throughout these pages! Like stars that only appear when you gaze long enough at the night sky. Parents often discover different meanings than their children do, and that's exactly how I planned it. Each reading can reveal something new, depending on where you are in your own journey.
It's those "aha" moments that make my heart sing - when a parent tells me they discovered something new while reading to their child for the third time, or when a child spots a detail that adds a whole new layer to the story. These little treasures are my gift to the careful readers who take their time to really explore the pages.
What was your hardest scene to write?
In "I'm Beautiful Because I Am," capturing the essence of inner beauty in child-friendly language was like trying to catch starlight in a jar. I wanted to express this huge concept in a way that would resonate with both little ones just starting to form their self-image and grown-ups who might need a gentle reminder of their own worth.
My daughters were my guiding lights through this challenge. We went through so many versions until we found words that danced just right on the page, that could touch hearts of all ages. Sometimes the simplest truths need the most careful telling.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
Think of the "Because I Am" series as a garden where each flower has its own unique beauty, but together they create something truly magical. Each book blooms with its own special message - about beauty, creativity, gratitude, or strength - while contributing to this larger tapestry of self-discovery and joy.
Just like in a real garden, children can start anywhere and find something wonderful. But when they explore the whole collection? That's when the real magic happens - they begin to see how all these beautiful qualities live inside them, working together like different colors in the same rainbow.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
My deepest wish was to create stories that act as gentle reminders of the magic every child carries inside. You know that moment when a child's eyes light up with self-recognition? When they suddenly see their own worth reflected back at them? That's what I was aiming for with every page.
Hearing parents tell me their little ones now look in mirrors and say things like "I'm beautiful because I'm kind" or "I'm beautiful because I'm curious about the world" - well, that tells me these books are doing exactly what they were meant to do. They're not just being read; they're being lived. And that's better than any goal I could have dreamed up!
What inspired you to write I’m Beautiful Because I Am?
Have you ever caught that moment when a child's sparkle dims because they're comparing themselves to others? As a mom of two girls, I've seen it happen far too often, and each time it feels like watching a little star lose its light. That's what sparked this book - this urgent need to catch those doubts before they could take root and replace them with something stronger: self-love rooted in who they truly are.
I wanted to create a story that could show children their beauty isn't just in their reflection - it's in the way they plant seeds of kindness, in how their curiosity leads them to discover tiny worms and twinkling stars, in all the unique ways they make others smile. It's like planting a garden of self-love that grows stronger with each reading.
Can you tell us a little bit about the next books in the Because I Am Series or what you have planned for the future?
Oh, I'm so excited about my next adventure - the "Playground Parables" series! Think of it as taking all the heart of the "Because I Am" series and bringing it to life in the most challenging arena of all: the playground. These stories tackle those tricky social moments we all remember from childhood, but with a splash of magic and a whole lot of heart.
Each book is like a friendly guide through the jungle gym of growing up, helping kids navigate everything from sharing to standing up for themselves, all while keeping their inner light shining bright. It's all about turning those everyday playground moments into opportunities for growth and connection.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in I’m Beautiful Because I Am?
Our main character is actually every child who opens the book! I created her to be like a magical mirror, reflecting back all the wonderful qualities that make each reader special. She discovers that her hands are beautiful because they help things grow, her legs are beautiful because they carry her on adventures, and her mind is beautiful because it's always wondering about the world.
The real magic happens when children start seeing themselves in her story. When they realize that their own hands, legs, minds, and hearts are just as beautiful in their own unique ways. That's when the story jumps off the page and becomes part of their own adventure of self-discovery.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
The absolute best part was having my own little editorial team right at home! My daughters became my creative partners, turning what could have been a solitary journey into this wonderful family adventure. Their honest feedback - sometimes brutally honest! - shaped these books in ways I never expected.
There were plenty of "back to the drawing board" moments, but they usually ended in giggles and discoveries that made the stories even better. It was like we were all growing together through this process, learning to see beauty in new ways and sharing that gift with other families.
About the Author
Azizi Tuere is a vibrant storyteller on a mission to empower families through heartwarming tales. As a homeschooling mom of two, she transforms everyday experiences into adventures that nurture emotional intelligence and self-worth. Her "Because I Am" series sprung from a desire to help children embrace their unique beauty and potential. When not weaving words, Azizi hosts "Tiny Green Chef," an online cooking program that brings families together through plant-based cuisine. Her work is a testament to her belief that every child is a masterpiece waiting to be discovered. Connect with Azizi's world of wonder at AziziTuere.com.
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