Sometimes you just don’t know how much you need a book until you read a book. Well, the book I’m discussing in this podcast is one of those kinds of books. You might have heard of NFL star Matt Forte, but did you know he wrote a book? A children’s rhyming picture book?
Seriously, you have to listen to the story behind My Hair Can!
A Little About Matt Forte
In this podcast, I am joined by Matt Forte, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. After a ten-year career as NFL Running Back, Matt founded Workhorse 22 Apparel, an athleisure brand. He has also created the What’s Your Forte Foundation, whose mission is to invest in the equitable economic advancement of youth and families through partnership and purposeful relationships. Matt is also a Core Missions Catalyst for the Pro Athletes Outreach (PAO).
My Hair Can is a terrific book that invites diverse girls and boys to embrace their natural hair with an uplifting reminder of their God-given worth. In the conversation, Matt states, “I want young people to look at the way God has created them and enjoy that, to love what they see in the mirror. … They are uniquely made by God.”
Jennifer Smelter also joins us in this conversation. She is a good friend of mine, and her review of My Hair Can was recently published here on Hip Homeschool Moms. Jennifer has three children, two of whom have graduated from high school, and the third is a junior. She’s a homeschooling mom who writes and manages homeschool roster, a homeschooling website.
Matt Forte played for the Chicago Bears for eight years, after being drafted by them in 2008, and then played two extra years for the New York Jets. He spent 10 years in the NFL as a running back, but his journey to becoming the author of a book was unexpected.
Matt’s mission in writing My Hair Can was to take a negative experience and make something positive out of it, and you can hear the details about the back story in the podcast. His goal was to write a children’s book that embraces differences and highlights how we are each uniquely made.
From cool curls to crisp fades, from long locs to beaded braids, boys and girls will find an encouraging reminder about loving their hair, respecting differences, and celebrating their God-given uniqueness. Celebrate what your hair can do with My Hair Can!
My Hair Can is an encouraging reminder for young readers about loving their hair, respecting differences, and celebrating their God-given uniqueness.
- Features rhyming text perfect for read-aloud book
- Represents hairstyles of boys and girls
- Builds positive affirmations, confidence, and self-esteem
- Emphasizes hair connection to ancestral roots
- Empowers solidarity with friends
- Highlights each child’s God-given uniqueness
- Includes delightful and colorful illustrations
Written by Matt Forte and illustrated by artist and illustrator Sophia Green, My Hair Can will inspire children of multiple ethnicities (ages 4–7) to wear their hair proudly!
Watch the video of the podcast conversation here:
