WEBVTT -- English 00:00:09.448 --> 00:00:11.448 No way! 00:00:11.601 --> 00:00:13.601 Hi my name is Jerry Zhang 00:00:13.602 --> 00:00:16.640 and these are my daughters Every & Madison 00:00:17.278 --> 00:00:19.278 and I'm writing a children's book 00:00:19.638 --> 00:00:21.638 called Pepper Zhang: Artist Extraordinaire! 00:00:21.954 --> 00:00:24.501 and I need your help to fund the project 00:00:24.503 --> 00:00:26.503 I created the character Pepper Zhang 00:00:26.504 --> 00:00:29.841 because when Madison was a little over two and a half 00:00:29.841 --> 00:00:32.283 I couldn't find any interesting 00:00:32.283 --> 00:00:34.283 illustrated children's books that featured an Asian child 00:00:34.284 --> 00:00:37.238 as the main character or hero of the story 00:00:37.787 --> 00:00:40.372 Many of the books that did feature Asian children 00:00:40.408 --> 00:00:42.408 were centered around cultural themes like 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:44.439 China town, Chinese new year or 00:00:44.835 --> 00:00:46.835 Chinese characters, which is great 00:00:47.057 --> 00:00:49.057 but I was really looking for books 00:00:49.360 --> 00:00:51.360 that followed just the story about a really 00:00:51.466 --> 00:00:53.466 cool and awesome child that happened 00:00:53.546 --> 00:00:55.546 to be Asian without the story completely being 00:00:55.731 --> 00:00:58.049 focused about the fact that she's Asian 00:00:58.908 --> 00:01:00.908 When I think back to my own childhood 00:01:00.908 --> 00:01:02.908 growing up in the United States 00:01:02.909 --> 00:01:04.909 I can't remember any distinct lead characters 00:01:05.421 --> 00:01:07.659 in the books I read as a child who were Asian 00:01:07.686 --> 00:01:10.739 my favorite characters tended to be non-diverse characters 00:01:11.299 --> 00:01:13.299 and I definitely think it had an impact 00:01:13.337 --> 00:01:15.742 on my own sense of identity and how I viewed myself 00:01:15.751 --> 00:01:18.733 as an Asian American 00:01:18.888 --> 00:01:20.888 This project was originally a book 00:01:20.927 --> 00:01:22.927 I wanted to write for Madison & Everly 00:01:22.927 --> 00:01:24.927 the book I didn't have growing up when I was their age 00:01:25.656 --> 00:01:27.656 Pepper Zhang: Artist Extraordinaire! 00:01:27.656 --> 00:01:31.334 is a story that follows an imaginative, quirky and fiery little girl 00:01:31.335 --> 00:01:33.335 who develops a love for art 00:01:33.337 --> 00:01:35.337 after a particularly bad tantrum 00:01:35.388 --> 00:01:37.388 and then goes on a journey of self-discovery 00:01:38.447 --> 00:01:40.600 the character is inspired by my oldest daughter, Madison 00:01:41.033 --> 00:01:43.144 who loves art, loves music 00:01:43.144 --> 00:01:46.492 and is just overall an awesome kid! 00:01:46.493 --> 00:01:48.493 For this book, I'm partnering with the talented artist 00:01:48.698 --> 00:01:50.698 Trisha Hautea 00:01:50.700 --> 00:01:53.150 who is illustrating by hand all the art for the book 00:01:53.150 --> 00:01:55.277 which will be a mix of illustrations and cut-outs 00:01:57.504 --> 00:01:59.504 I'm crowdfunding this book because 00:01:59.504 --> 00:02:01.504 I don't want to bring it to a corporate publisher 00:02:01.506 --> 00:02:03.506 who will ruin the spirit of the book 00:02:03.507 --> 00:02:05.509 and dictate how I develop Pepper's character 00:02:05.750 --> 00:02:08.189 so I need your help to make this project a reality 00:02:08.191 --> 00:02:10.191 and I'm really grateful for it 00:02:10.651 --> 00:02:12.733 Your pledges will help contribute to the cost of 00:02:13.038 --> 00:02:15.038 printing the books and storing the books. 00:02:15.528 --> 00:02:17.528 Imagination, personality and wonder 00:02:17.677 --> 00:02:20.060 are traits that exist in children of all backgrounds 00:02:20.663 --> 00:02:22.663 and I think it's really important 00:02:22.663 --> 00:02:24.663 for our children to have access to books 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:26.939 with diverse main characters 00:02:26.967 --> 00:02:28.967 Children start forming their sense of identy 00:02:28.992 --> 00:02:30.992 at a very young age and I truly believe 00:02:30.993 --> 00:02:32.993 it's important that they see versions of themselves 00:02:33.125 --> 00:02:35.899 in books as the hero or the star 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:38.360 Pepper Zhang: Artist Extraordinaire! 00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:40.360 just isn't another book about an Asian child 00:02:40.769 --> 00:02:42.769 but an opportunity to provide diversity into 00:02:42.992 --> 00:02:45.399 a homogeneous children's book industry 00:02:45.842 --> 00:02:47.842 and at the end of the day 00:02:47.843 --> 00:02:49.843 all children benefit when there's more diversity 00:02:50.040 --> 00:02:52.040 in the books that they have access to 00:02:52.152 --> 00:02:54.152 Thank you and I look forward to your support 00:02:54.153 --> 00:02:56.153 and making Pepper Zhang: Artist Extraordinaire! 00:02:56.155 --> 00:02:58.155 a reality!