Valerie Bolling was a longtime fifth grade teacher, spending 30 years working in schools as an educator, before publishing her first children’s book, Let’s Dance!, in 2020. Since then, she’s written and published a dozen books for kids of all ages, all of which celebrate children and diversity.
Publisher’s Weekly called her newest book, I See Color, a “high-level work [that] underscores ‘all that can be achieved together.’” Her whimsical, colorful Rainbow Days series is one anyone with pre-school and new readers will know.
We asked Valerie about her career, why representation matters in kids books, and more.
Our littlest readers love Rainbow Days—do you hear that all the time?
I actually find that most people tend to know about me because of my debut, Let’s Dance!, which was released in March 2020, a week before the pandemic shutdown. Since everyone was at home, I had a captive audience, and a lot of people found out about that book. I also think I’m known for whatever my most recent book is, and, currently, that’s I See Color.
The idea for the Rainbow series came about because I wanted to write a Scholastic Acorn series and needed to come up with an idea that would interest young readers—a book that they’d be excited to read on their own.
Since most children enjoy being creative and adore animals, I decided to write about a girl and her pup who enjoy making art together. Once I decided on my characters, I had to choose their names. Zoya’s name is a combination of my nieces’ names, Zorah and Anyah. My younger niece, Anyah, loves art, so she’s part of the inspiration for art-loving Zoya. And I thought Coco would be a cute name for a dog.
Your other books, A Flea for Justice, I See Color, Together We Swim, and Bing Bop Bam, show all type of children. Why is representation so important in kids books?
Representation is important for children—for all of us, really. Books can unite us, especially when we discuss books with a diverse group of readers (this is true for adults, too!)—what a wonderful way to learn and grow. This is why book banning makes no sense; it’s counterproductive and erases stories to which children should have access. Books can make us feel valued and validated, seen and heard, and it’s also how we learn about others different from us and build an inclusive and empathetic world.
That’s why I write books that I hope will bring people together. Together We Swim (TWS) and Bing, Bop, Bam: Time to Jam (BBB) are written in sparse rhyme and focus on community and having fun. In TWS a young boy is in a swimming pool with his family, being taught to swim by his mom. A neighborhood community in BBB prepares for and enjoys a musical block party together, featuring instruments from around the world. A Flea for Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change and I See Color are nonfiction books, showcasing Americans who fought for social justice and contributed positively to our country; they are people we should all know and learn more about. To find out more about these books (and my others), check out my website.
What’s next for you?
My next book is for teachers. It’s titled Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom: Building Student Agency, Independence, and Success and will be released July 14, 2025. My first picture book biography, A Flea for Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change (illustrated by TeMika Grooms) will be released on Sept. 16, 2025. I also have another picture book, The March for Hope (illustrated by Monica Mikai), scheduled for release in 2026 and a board book, Chloe’s Community Garden (illustrated by Felicia Whaley), slated for 2027.
Anything else you’d like to share?
One of the things I love most about being an author is connecting with young readers and students (I’m an educator at heart!). Therefore, I’d like teachers and librarians to know that I’m available for visits to schools and libraries. You can find out about the programming I offer by perusing the School Visits page on my website. Also, feel free to connect with me on social media.
Instagram: instagram.com/valeriebollingauthor
Facebook: facebook.com/ValerieBollingAuthor
Bluesky: valeriebolling.bsky.social
Read more author profiles on The North County Moms:
Zibby Owens on Finding Time for Creativity in Motherhood
