It is this legacy of dynamic, change-making women that Maya’s daughter Meena Harris, also a lawyer and founder of the Phenomenal Phenomenal Woman activism campaign and lifestyle brand, draws upon when discussing the inspiration behind her first book, Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, due for release by HarperCollins Publishers on June 2.
The children’s book is a retelling of a story Meena grew up hearing from the women in her family, recounting how her mother and aunt became early community organizers when they galvanized their neighbors into transforming the vacant lot next to their building into a playground.
“There are many reasons I wrote it, but the very first reason was I grew up in this incredible environment surrounded by these three really strong and—even in my child’s eye back then—really powerful women of color and black women, and that was my grandmother, my mom, and my aunt,” Harris told The Glow Up just weeks after Kamala ended her presidential campaign.
While Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea may be centered around two thoughtful and determined little girls, it’s really a story about community—one equally relevant and relatable for all children and their parents.
“I also carry with me a feeling of purpose and responsibility there, as well: to have it not only be a children’s book about black girls and women of color but also being written by a woman of color, illustrated by a woman of color.
