Lavell Ballard

Hey there! I’m Lavell, an early childhood teacher and children’s book author based in Chicago. One of my favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou: "When you learn, teach. When you get, give." That philosophy is exactly what drives me, both in the classroom and in my writing.

Every single day, I get to see firsthand how powerful a little bit of encouragement can be for young minds. I wrote Be Good, Be Kind, Love Yourself because I believe that learning to love who you are is just as important as learning your ABCs. When I’m not teaching or dreaming up new stories, you can usually find me walking out in nature, practicing yoga, or finding quiet ways to wind down. My goal is simple: to write books that feel like a warm hug and remind kids everywhere that they are enough exactly as they are.