Actress Taraji P. Henson is releasing a new children’s book. Titled You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!), the book addresses the mental health of children and aims to help them deal with their anxieties.
Illustrated by award-winning artist Paul Kellam, the book will be released by Zonderkidz on June 18, 2024. It marks Henson’s second literary work after her 2016 memoir Around the Way Girl: A Memoir.
You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) tells the story of a girl named Lil TJ and her first day at school. After arriving at school, Lil TJ becomes a target of a bully. But instead of allowing a bully to ruin her day, the little girl finds a way to deal with the challenges thanks to advice given to her by Grandma Patsy while making new friends in the process.
According to Henson, who is an outspoken mental health advocate, the goal of the book is to promote mental well-being and socialization skills in children while teaching kids the importance of friendship.
“Mental health struggles can start even in childhood, and oftentimes, it begins with being bullied. This book isn’t just about bullying though—it’s about how children all have something different about them, and being different is what makes them oh so very special,” Henson shared in a chat with PEOPLE.
Henson shared further details about the book in a video posted on her social media.