J.F. Bierlein is the author of the new children's picture book What Makes Hands Beautiful?. His other books include Living Myths. Also a business coach and consultant, he lives in San Antonio, Texas.
Q: What inspired you to write What Makes Hands Beautiful?
A: I admire looking at people’s hands—they often tell a life story.
In a time when kindness and respect are items that sometimes seem in short supply, I felt that it was important for people to understand that all hands, and all people, are beautiful when they help others.
They deserve respect for their livelihoods, they may be of any ethnic or racial background, and many different hands can touch our lives in meaningful ways. What we do for others is what makes us, and our hands, beautiful. I wanted to inject a little kindness into the world.
Q: What do you think Houda Zahid’s illustrations add to the book?
A: The story would be hollow without Houda’s wonderful illustrations. It shows diversity, a sense that doesn’t confine gender roles, and helps children to see all kinds of livelihoods as worthy of respect.
Incidentally, the mother and Raniya look like Houda and her daughter Raniya.
Q: You’ve written for kids and for adults--do you have a preference?
A: This is the first book I have written for kids and it grew out of a poem that I wrote for adults, sent to Houda, and we both thought it would be a good way to teach children respect and kindness. I am talking about writing other books with Houda.
Meanwhile, I also have some book projects directed at adults.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?
A: I hope that kids value other people, respect them, and think of how others help them and are worthy of our respect, regardless of the job or the person’s race.
I want to take any opportunity that I can to help children see the beauty of other human beings, treat them with respect and kindness, and value them.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I just self-published a book of poetry for adults. I am brainstorming on additional children’s books, and I am in the process of translating What Makes Hands Beautiful? into Turkish and Spanish.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Writing things that help people see the beauty and goodness in other people hopefully makes my hands just a little nicer.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb. This post was created in partnership with J.F. Bierlein. Enter this giveaway for your chance to win a signed set of J.F. Bierlein’s books, including What Makes Hands Beautiful?, Parallel Myths, Kindness Matters, and the upcoming River Stones.
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