Original subtitles

Hello and welcome to the fourth annual Bronx Book Festival. My name is Saraciea Fennell and

I am the founder of this glorious event. And I am so excited to be hosting uh Books and Snacks with

the author Tami Charles. Tami Charles is the New York Times best-selling author

of numerous books for young readers including the picture book All Because You Matter,

illustrated by Bryan Collier, and the novels Like Vanessa, Becoming Beatrice, and Muted. In

her teens and early 20s, Tami enjoyed a taste of fame as a member of an all girl R&B trio.

They performed for Boys II Men, BET, and Showtime at the Apollo. And had a one-hit

wonder on the radio. After college, Tami worked as an educator for 14 years before pursuing her

childhood dream of becoming an author. For more information on Tami and Muted, visit

tamiwrites.com and mutedbook.tumblr.com. Tami, it is so great to have you here with us today.

I'm going to go ahead and turn my camera off and let you take it away for story time. Thank you so

much. I'm really excited to be here. I have always wanted to be at this event, in person, obviously.

I'm happy that I could be here virtually. So today I'll be reading my picture book

All Because You Matter. All Because You Matter is, it's really a love letter to, first of all my son,

second to children like my son, Black and Brown children, children from marginalized backgrounds,

but essentially it is a book for all children. Um I wrote this

this love letter to my son and to children um just to remind him that he matters. And

children matter. Our children matter. And that there's a space for them in this world.

Um so I want to show you my favorite favorite part of this book. Bryan Collier is the illustrator,

right there. He's amazing. And this, when you take the jacket off,

you get this incredible picture. A little fun fact, that kid on the cover, that's my son.

The very kid that I wrote the book for. (laughter) His name is Christopher and he's 11 years old and

Bryan Collier said that those stripes across his face, well that represents the roads and

rivers and paths and all the ways that we are connected together. So you ready? Here we go.

All Because You Matter

They say that matter is all things that make up the universe. Energy, stars, space.

If that's the case, then you, dear child

matter.

Long before you took your place in this world, you were dreamed of like a knapsack full of

wishes carried on the backs of your ancestors as they created empires, pyramids, legacies.

Building, inventing, working beneath red hot suns and cold blue moons.

Thinking of you years ahead because to them you always mattered.

On the night you were born stars sprayed across the sky, each one full of light,

hope, love, and all the moments in your life that would matter.

Like your first steps, bare feet planted on cold floor, hobbling, wobbling,

toppling only to stand and try again.

Or your first words, spoken almost like a lullaby. Notes climbing a ladder to the sky.

Or the first time you opened a book like a mirror staring back at you,

and really saw yourself, same hair, same skin, same dreams.

The words and pictures coming together like sweet jam on toast, música blasting through barrios,

sun and blue sky, all because you matter.

But in galaxies far away, it may seem that light does not always reach lonely planets,

covered moons, stars unseen, as if matter no longer exists.

And just like moons hidden in the dark, there will be times when you too will question your place

in the universe. Like the time you'll hear the teacher call your name Hossam, Uzoamaka, Yordenis.

And the whispers and giggles begin, followed by "what kind of name is that?"

Or the time you'll see a letter, big,

bold, red on the page. And you will question if you and your work and your effort matter.

Or the time when your Pop-Pop turns on the news

and you see people everywhere take a breath, take a stand, take a knee.

And you hear Pop-Pop's whispered prayers as another name is called. Trayvon,

Tamir, Philando. And you wonder if they, or you, will ever matter.

But did you know that you do? Did you know that you were born from queens, chiefs,

legends? Did you know that you are the earth? That strength, power, and beauty lie within you?

Did you know that you are sun rays, calm like ocean waves, tough like montañas, magic like

stars in space? And on the day the universe was created you were thought of, dreamed of, carried

like a knapsack full of wishes as planets, stars, moons took their places, making room for you,

your people, their dreams, your future. All because, since the beginning of time,

you mattered. They mattered. We matter. And always will. The end. Thank you so much for having me.

I hope you enjoyed this reading of All Because You Matter.