Podcast Summary

Podcast: Totally Booked with Zibby
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Tami Charles
Episode: Tami Charles, TOGETHER, UNITED (An All Because You Matter Book)
Date: November 20, 2025
Location: Live at the Whitby

Overview

This live episode features a heartfelt, dynamic conversation between Zibby Owens and acclaimed children’s book author Tami Charles. They discuss Tami’s newest book, Together, United, the third and final installment of her acclaimed trilogy that began with the bestselling All Because You Matter. The episode explores Tami’s inspiration for the books, the importance of unity and representation in children’s literature, book challenges and bans, her creative journey, and her collaborative process co-authoring a new book with her son.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The All Because You Matter Trilogy: Inspiration and Purpose

(02:34–05:56)

• Series Structure:
  • The trilogy consists of All Because You Matter (an affirmation of worth and a conversation starter for tough topics), We Are Here (a celebration of ancestry and history), and Together, United (an encouragement for children to see the strength in unity and their futures as leaders).
  • “This is the type of book that reminds kids of their voices, of the gifts that they have, because they will be the ones to lead us into the future and get us out of this mess and all the messes. They are the future leaders.” — Tami Charles (04:12)
  • The three titles form a complete sentence when read together: All because you matter. We are here. Together, united.
  • The series evolved organically; Tami did not initially plan a trilogy.

Representation, Empathy, and Literature as a Bridge

(06:10–07:54)

• Tami references Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s idea that “books should serve as mirrors, windows, and doors”—mirrors to see oneself, windows to see others, doors to step into new worlds.
• “As an author and a former teacher, I think books are the way. This is how we spark conversation and learn about people who are different than us.” — Tami Charles (06:48)
• Studies show children crave unity and empathy, and literature is a key to fostering these values.

Book Challenges and The Power of Story

(08:01–09:39)

• Zibby brings up the banning of All Because You Matter in some school districts.
• Tami relays her experience in Waterloo, Iowa, where 3,500 books were withheld during Black History Month, but the controversy led to her being invited to speak at a large, unifying community event.
• “When we stifle kids from reading stories that may not be about their own experience, we’re really hindering their ability to connect with other people, no matter the difference.” — Tami Charles (08:46)
• The Waterloo event displayed the capacity of books to draw together diverse audiences.

Tami Charles’s Unconventional Path

(09:53–11:32)

• Zibby asks about Tami’s background as a singer in a girl group, which inspired her YA novel Muted.
• Tami shares that her experiences in music, and the challenges she faced, inform her stories and her decision to become a teacher.

Getting Kids to Read—Meeting Readers Where They Are

(11:32–12:42)

• Tami advocates for allowing children to choose what interests them, which for her son meant graphic novels.
• “There’s no such thing as a person who doesn’t like to read. You just haven’t found the right book yet.” — Tami Charles (11:52)

Writing with Her Son and Promoting Neurodiversity

(16:25–17:47)

• Tami and her son Christopher are co-authoring a book, That Beautiful Mind, about neurodivergence and ADHD.
• The goal is to normalize conversations about different kinds of learners.
• “I realized…my son has such a beautiful mind, but like many children, he is neurodivergent. He has ADHD. So we wrote a book together…an ode to all types of learners.” — Tami Charles (17:19)

The Power of Unity – Message for Children

(18:04–19:15)

• Tami wants her books to inspire children to recognize their strengths and “realize what their gift is and understand the power that happens when we come together.”
• “Alone, we are a wonder, but together…we’re unstoppable.” — Tami Charles (18:51)

Artistic Collaboration and Publishing "Dreams"

(19:15–20:48)

• The illustrations in the trilogy are by award-winning artist Bryan Collier; Tami dreamt of the words and the art, and Scholastic, her publisher, let her choose her illustrator.
• “That never, ever happens in publishing. You have no say. But for this series, I was really, really lucky to be paired with Bryan.” — Tami Charles (20:31)

Overcoming Barriers and Persistence in Publishing

(20:55–22:26)

• Tami reflects on how representation—or the lack of it—inspired her to become a teacher before rekindling her dream of being an author.
• She faced 40–50 rejections before her debut novel Like Vanessa was published, and now has 22 published books.
• “How could you be something that you can’t see? So I put the dream away. It was through teaching that I rediscovered my love and my passion for writing.” — Tami Charles (21:09)

“My First Yes” and Validation

(22:26–24:16)

• Like Vanessa—her debut novel about a young girl inspired by Vanessa Williams’s historic Miss America win—was her first publication. Vanessa Williams has endorsed the book.
• “If you Google Like Vanessa, you will see Vanessa Williams’ endorsement right there…” — Tami Charles (24:12)

Upcoming Projects and Advice

(24:25–25:56)

• Tami announces a forthcoming picture book biography: Remember Her Name about Debbie Allen (due February 10).
• She teases a new cold case kidnapping novel is in the works.
• Encourages people to connect with her on Instagram (@tammywrites) and visit tammywrites.com.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the series’ message:
  “All because you matter. We are here. Together, united.”
  (Tami Charles, 04:49)
• On book banning:
  “When we stifle kids from reading stories that may not be about their own experience, we’re really hindering their ability to connect with other people.”
  (Tami Charles, 08:46)
• On unity and hope:
  “Alone, we are a wonder, but together…we’re unstoppable.”
  (Tami Charles, 18:51)
• On finding the right book:
  “There’s no such thing as a person who doesn’t like to read. You just haven’t found the right book yet.”
  (Tami Charles, 11:52)
• On dreams and barriers:
  “How could you be something that you can’t see? … It was through teaching that I rediscovered my love and my passion for writing.”
  (Tami Charles, 21:08)
• On unexpected success in publishing:
  “That never, ever happens in publishing…But for this series, I was really, really lucky to be paired with Bryan [Collier].”
  (Tami Charles, 20:31)

Timeline of Important Segments

• [02:34] – Tami explains the trilogy’s arc and inspiration
• [04:49] – Complete sentence formed by trilogy titles
• [06:35] – Books as mirrors, windows, and doors; fostering empathy
• [08:06] – Banning of All Because You Matter; Waterloo incident
• [09:53] – Tami’s music background and inspiration for Muted
• [11:32] – Getting her son to read; letting kids choose their books
• [16:25] – Writing That Beautiful Mind with her neurodiverse son
• [18:04] – Books to spark unity and self-belief in children
• [19:23] – Collaborating with Bryan Collier, illustration dream
• [20:55] – Tami's journey: rejections, first book, representation
• [22:26] – Story behind her debut novel and Vanessa Williams endorsement
• [24:25] – New picture book on Debbie Allen and more projects

Conclusion

This episode is an inspiring look at Tami Charles’s evolution as an author, her commitment to representation and unity in children’s books, and the real-world impact of her work—even in the face of censorship. With warmth and humor, she highlights the power of books to affirm worth, connect kids across differences, and embolden future generations. It’s a message that resonates now more than ever.