You are Needed. You are Loved. You Matter.

There are some messages children need to hear over and over again:

You matter.

You are needed.

You do not have to be like everyone else to have value.

That is the heart behind The Piece That Is You, a children’s book by Gayle Holdman that uses the image of stained glass to teach kids something simple but powerful: every person has an important place or "piece" in the world.

We recently spoke with Gayle about the inspiration behind the book, the message she hopes children take away from it, and why helping children understand their worth feels more important now than ever.

The Inspiration Behind the Book

For Gayle, the idea for The Piece That Is You started many years ago. She and her husband spent years working with stained glass, creating beautiful pieces out of small fragments of colored glass. Over time, Gayle began to notice something meaningful about the process.

Every piece of glass matters.

Some pieces are large. Some are tiny. Some are simple. Others are oddly shaped or more intricate. But every piece has a purpose. If even one piece is missing, the final window is not as complete or as strong.

That became the inspiration for the book.

Gayle believes people are much the same way. We all have different talents, personalities, strengths, and struggles, but those differences are not mistakes. They are part of what makes us important.

After finishing a particularly difficult creative project, she felt inspired to write something that would remind children (and adults) that they are not “extra pieces.”

They belong.

They matter.

And they have something meaningful to contribute.

Interestingly, the final line of the book was actually the first line Gayle wrote:

“Something awesome can come from what you do, too. The world will be blessed by the piece that is you.”

That line became the foundation for everything else.

Why Children Need This Message Today

When asked why this message feels especially important right now, Gayle talked about how much comparison children face. Whether it comes from school, sports, social media, or friendships, children are constantly surrounded by pressure to compare themselves to others.

Comparison can make kids feel like they are not enough.

Gayle believes that when children truly understand their worth, they become more confident, more compassionate, and more resilient.

Knowing you matter does not create pride or selfishness. It creates security.

And when children feel secure in who they are, they are better able to celebrate the people around them instead of feeling threatened by them.

At its core, the book encourages children to:

• Know they are valuable

• Understand they have something important to offer

• Feel confident in who they are

• Recognize that their differences matter

Differences Are What Make the World Beautiful

One of the strongest themes in The Piece That Is You is that differences are not flaws.

They are what make people beautiful.

Gayle explained that in stained glass, some of the most unusual and complicated pieces often become the most striking parts of the final design. Without those pieces, something would be missing.

She hopes children walk away from the book knowing:

• They are enough exactly as they are

• They do not need to be ashamed of what makes them different

• They are valuable right now, not “someday”

• They can be excited about who they are becoming

Just like every piece of glass makes a stained glass window stronger, every person makes their family, school, and community stronger too.

A Story Rooted in Love

Gayle sees The Piece That Is You connecting to all of the Seven Pillars of Humanity: knowledge, creativity, unity, courage, freedom, faith, and love. But if she had to choose one pillar that matters most, she says it would be love.

Love is where everything begins.

When children know they are loved, they are more likely to love themselves. And when they love themselves, they are able to love other people more fully.

That is what makes this book so special.

It is not just a story about self worth.

It is a reminder that love, belonging, and connection are things every child deserves to feel.

More Than a Children’s Book

Gayle describes The Piece That Is You as “a love letter from God to His children.”

The book came together slowly over several years. Beginning in 2018, she kept a notebook by her bed and close by throughout the day. Whenever a rhyming line or idea came to her, she wrote it down.

Little by little, those lines became a story.

The challenge was saying something deep in a way children could understand.

Gayle wanted the words to be simple enough for young readers while still creating meaningful conversations for parents, teachers, and caregivers.

She hopes adults use the book as an opportunity to ask children questions like:

• What makes you unique?

• What are you proud of about yourself?

• What are some strengths you have?

• How did this story make you feel?

Those conversations, she says, can make a lasting impact.

Final Thoughts

At Roots of Humanity, we believe every person has an important role to play. The Piece That Is You reflects that belief in a beautiful and accessible way.

In a world that often points out differences as something negative, Gayles' story reminds us that our differences are exactly what make us needed. Each of us is a piece chosen, shaped, and placed with purpose.

And when we come together, we create something beautiful that would not exist without every single one of us.

The Piece That Is You is available for purchase through Roots of Humanity. Every purchase of the book helps support the foundation’s mission of educating through art, inspiring conversations around identity, love, and unity, and helping build the Sphere of Light.

Best,

• Roots of Humanity