It wasn’t until I became a parent when I realized that children’s picture books contain bits of life’s wisdom packaged in accessible rhymes and vivid illustrations. If you’ve recently picked up a picture book (or read many out loud to little ones in your life), you might relate. One of the beloved books in our family is called Clara Caterpillar, a delightful story that reminded my son (and me) about not giving up - even in the face of a butterfly bully! Many years later, the book still sits on my son’s bookshelf.

Knowing the power of children’s picture books is one reason that I decided to write We Are The Builders! It’s a book that introduces a hopeful and empowering framework to help children find their strengths and skills in order to be helpers in their communities.

As the book begins, children and grown-ups are gathering for a Community Day in their neighborhood. An older teenager named Ramla welcomes them with an invitation:

The time is now|Let’s all play a part!

Listen and learn|What moves your heart?

The children are then introduced to ten roles - such as experimenters, storytellers, weavers, and visionaries - that they choose to address the different needs in the neighborhood. With beautiful illustrations by Romina Galotta, the book will hopefully “inspire social justice-minded readers,” as Publisher’s Weekly noted in a recent review.

But We Are The Builders! isn’t a book just for young children. At a time when it feels like we are all on a roller-coaster, I hope that this book can be a gentle pause, an affirming reminder of what is possible when we come together, and a call to action.

We Are The Builders! is for you if:

• You are a parent, caregiver, and family member trying to find the language to talk with young children about the overwhelming issues that confront our society today, from the elections to racial injustice to war. We can’t inoculate or protect little ones from the many crises swirling around us - but we can offer them an orientation to make meaning of what’s happening, and give them tools to take action if they so desire.

• You are an educator looking for ways to supplement teaching about how to be a community helper and how to use our strengths to make a difference. We Are The Builders! includes prompts and discussion questions at the end, and soon, there will be more supplemental materials on my website.

• You feel like you’re on a seesaw moving from numbness to outrage given today’s world of permacrisis. Sometimes, it can be hard to figure out what role to play, what issue to address, and where to begin. We Are The Builders! might be a starting point to discover the social change ecosystem map which includes materials for adults as well (such as a workbook, available here).

I would love your support and ideas in spreading the word about We Are The Builders! Here are a few ways you can get involved.

1. Pre-order by September 15! Please consider purchasing a copy for the little ones in your life, your own pre-school/elementary school, and especially yourself!

Click here to get your copy today

2. Ask your local library to stock the book. Here are some steps to do that:

3. Come join me at one of the stops on my fall tour!

I’m also scheduling events for spring 2025, and would love to come to your school, local library, bookstore, or organization!

Reach out about a potential event

4. Kick-off event: Join me and special guests on September 16th (at 6pm EDT/3pm PDT) for a virtual launch (and some book giveaways!). Please join by registering below!

Register here

Beyond the children’s book world, here is what I’m working on:

For my take on the elections and South Asians, please read my oped here.

Check out a non-partisan Elections 2024 toolkit from SolidarityIs/Building Movement Project, where I work, here.

For my writing generally, please visit Goodreads and my website.

Let’s connect: Instagram (@deepaviyer), LinkedIn, and X (@dviyer)