The Knowing

Ages 3 to 5, Grades K And Under

From the Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, political activist, and feminist icon comes a picture book with purpose, with heart, and with words that sing.

Singer-songwriter, activist, feminist, and best-selling author Ani Di Franco has written something for her youngest audience: a picture book that invites young readers to ponder the distinction between outer forms of identity and the inner light of consciousness that is even more central to our being. In her signature folk style, Di Franco weaves a story that incorporates themes of individual power and collective responsibility. First-time illustrator Julia Mathew paints universal scenes of childhood in her family’s native India, glowing with honesty and love. Designed to be read aloud or sung, and pored over, this picture book is rich with meaningful text, poignant illustrations, and a unique message that will resonate with all.

About the Author

Ani Di Franco is a Grammy-winning musical artist and feminist icon recognized for her poetry and songwriting, which pierces social convention and challenges the status quo, as well as for her social activism and political engagement. One of the first artists to create her own record label in 1990, she has sold over 5.5 million albums through her own Righteous Babe Records, and recently released her twenty-second studio album. While she has been known as the "Little Folksinger," her music has embraced many genres and collaborators ranging from Pete Seeger to Maceo Parker to Chuck D to Prince. She lives in New Orleans with her family.

Author Residence: New Orleans, Louisiana

Julia Mathew is a designer and artist based in Toronto. She specializes in bringing creative strategy and mixed media together in her work. Julia first started drawing at a young age, using mediums such as phone books and bedroom walls to express herself artistically, driving her immigrant apartment-renting parents mad. She has since evolved and has found a passion in bringing marginalized voices to the forefront of her work. Julia’s work touches on subjects of diaspora culture, love, identity politics, and cultural imposter syndrome – exploring complex identities through unconventional and experimental mixed media.

Illustrator Residence:Toronto, Canada