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Cindy Williams Schrauben is having an exciting year.

The Mt. Pleasant-based children’s book author released a new picture book, “This Could Be You: Be Brave! Be True! Believe! Be You!” in April via Cardinal Rule Press, a boutique publishing company in Wixom. Now, Williams Schrauben is gearing up for an international speaking tour taking her as far as Australia, but she’ll be making tour stops across Michigan first.

“Watching kids read and listen to my book is a dream come true,” said Williams Schrauben. “‘This Could Be You’ depicts everyday kids dreaming and persevering using a Growth Mindset philosophy. These principles encourage adults and children alike to realize the value of learning from their mistakes, tackling hard challenges and continuing to believe in themselves.”

American psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck coined the term “Growth Mindset” and describes it as “the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which way in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests, or temperaments, everyone can change and grow through application and experience.”

Williams Schrauben uses the Growth Mindset philosophy as a tool to help normalize the discussion of mental health while empowering children to develop a strong sense of self-awareness and a healthy growth mindset for themselves. And as a mom, grandmother and former educator, picture books have always been close to her heart.

“I could read to kids all day – the connection it provides is priceless,” she said. “Being an educator helped me to recognize the unique needs of individual kids.”

Additionally, she wanted all kids — no matter their background or ethnicity — to be able to see themselves in her books.

“The illustrator, Julia Seal, did an amazing job of showing various forms of diversity in my book,” she said.

Williams Schrauben believes that literature can play a huge part in ensuring that children grow up with a healthy, happy outlook.

“Yes, books should be fun, but they can also inform and help to introduce difficult subjects,” she said. “The trick is to accomplish both. Oftentimes, it is easier for kids to relate to the struggles of a book character than to deal with their own. Reading together is a great way to introduce sensitive topics and begin tough discussions.”

Williams Schrauben kicked off her book tour in July, with a visit to Schuler Books in Okemos. She will be at Sleepy Dog Books in Mt. Pleasant on Aug. 13, followed by a stop at the Kerrytown Book Fest in Ann Arbor on Sept. 18, and the Funky Ferndale Art Fair Sept. 24.

“I have been blessed with the opportunity to work for Cardinal Rule Press, pairing their Golden Rule focused books— including mine — with their recently acquired Bucket Filler Books programs,” she said. “This powerful new partnership will empower me and the other speakers with additional tools and a platform with which to further this mission.”

Through interactive school presentations, Bucket Filler Books has assisted over 3,000 schools in creating a culture of kindness and acceptance. Williams Schrauben hopes to draw on the proven efficacy of the program as well as her own experience as an educator to help equip schools, families and communities with strategies for building stronger communities and more confident, happy children.

So, what’s Williams Schrauben’s mission when it comes to creating children’s books?

“Although my mission is always to encourage a love for books, I am also cognizant of the urgency to address our youths’ social emotional needs and the fact that books can help with that,” she said. “If I can play a part in lessening mental health stigmas and guiding even one child to a happy, healthy outlook, I will have succeeded. I am adamant that a strong society starts with kids. We can learn a great deal from their natural tendency to be kind and accepting.”

For more information about Williams Schrauben’s book and a full list of tour dates, visit cindyschrauben.com.

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