NJ Woman Writes Book To Boost Kids' Self Esteem

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — For years, Qiana Davis has lived in the Avenel section of Woodbridge with her husband and three sons. For the past 18 years, she's also worked as a Pre-K teacher in the Elizabeth public school system.

It was there that she noticed something: The small children who had the most behavioral challenges, even at ages 3, 4 and 5 years old, were the ones experiencing the most challenges at home.

"Over time, I noticed the kids who are the most challenging, the most aggressive, it always turns out there are issues at home: Drugs, alcohol, a divorce, an absent parent," she said. "These are the children that need the most love."

Davis said what she observed in her education career prompted her to write her first children's book: "Love is Me." You can order Davis' book on Amazon, Target or from her website. It is also available at the Menlo Park Barnes & Noble and she is working to get it into the Woodbridge Public Library by the end of February. Davis is also a trustee at the Woodbridge Library.

The book is very simple, and is meant for toddlers and young children, but it repeats a theme she says children need to constantly hear: They are loved. They are good enough. And most importantly, they have to love themselves.

The book is interactive: The first page says "Love is family." Then the next page asks "What do you love about your family?" The next page says "Love is pizza." Then it asks: "What do you love to eat?"

Davis said every morning when children come into her Pre-K classroom in Elizabeth they start the day by standing up, giving themselves a hug and saying the following out loud together: "Love is me, love is you, love is in everything that we do. From the top of my head to the soles of my feet, I love every part of me. I love me."

That affirmation is repeated at the end of her book.

"That's why I called it 'Love is Me.' I want to teach my kids, and anyone who reads my book, that self love is the greatest love of all and it starts right here, inside," she said.

Davis said she knows her children are very young, but: "Early childhood is where it starts: The bullying already starts at this age; the girls start comparing themselves to each other and saying things like, 'I want her hair; I want her skin.'As educators, we are raising the future generation of people who will lead our country. The future world changers are right here in our classrooms."

"When a child — or adult — feels loved, they are able to spread love to others. Their self esteem is strengthened; they are kinder to each other," she said. "This is the message I want every child to know. If we can start teaching them this now, I really think we can have less bullying when kids are older."

She also said it was important that her book feature African-American, brown children and children of color.

"I'm an African-American woman and when I was growing up, I did not see representations of myself in children's books. It's so important that Black and brown children can see themselves on the cover of a book," she said. "It's easy enough now to find Black authors and authors of color on Amazon. But I want to see more books like that in public libraries and in school classrooms."

"I'm working to change that," she vowed.

Davis, along with Councilman Kyle Anderson, was instrumental in launching Woodbridge's first Juneteenth celebration in 2021. Juneteenth memorializes the day African-American slaves were freed at the end of the Civil War. There will be another Juneteenth celebration this June in Woodbridge; stay tuned for details.

Get great local news. Sign up for Patch: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com