Apryl Stott: Hi, my name is Apryl Stott, and I am the author and illustrator of Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light.

When I first started working on this book, I have a really nice editor who was helping me with the concept, and she asked, "Is this a story about friendship, or is this a story about kindness?" There are so many really wonderful books about friendship already. I decided I wanted to focus on kindness because it can be really challenging, and it is really important.

I am definitely more comfortable drawing pictures than I am writing the story. But one of the most special parts when I was making the book is it was before I had set up my studio... I have a lovely backyard studio right now. But before that, I was working in my basement, and there are no windows in my basement. I thought it was really ironic that I was working on this story about light and kindness in this little cave.

So I was trying to come up with the lyrics because I think, especially kids, learn really well through things that rhyme and through songs so I wanted kind of a little lyric that would stick in your head. I was looking for inspiration and, all of a sudden, it just came to me, "When life gets dark as winter's night," because I was in the dark, literally in the dark in my basement, "share some kindness, bring some light," that we can bring light even when things are hard around us.

What I was hoping readers would take away from this book is that sometimes it can be challenging and vulnerable to share kindness. It can be hard to put yourself out there, but that it's still worth trying. It doesn't always work out. I wanted to show that sometimes we can try to be kind, and it's not going to be received. In this story it's received well at the end; it kind of comes full circle. But in real life, we can try to do what's right and try to be kind, and it doesn't always work out, but that that's okay. That doesn't mean we stop trying, but that there is still something that we can do to try and make life better for the people around us.

I'm going to read an excerpt from the book:

Coco gave Bear a big, tight hug. Because that's what made her feel better whenever she was sad. After Bear got some of his sadness out, Coco said, "My grandma always says: 'When life gets dark as winter's night, share some kindness, bring some light.' If we can do that, maybe the other animals would see what a good, kind Bear you are."

"But how do you share kindness?" asked Bear.

Coco thought a moment. "I think kindness must be something that you can give away. Like a gift."

"We can bake cookies to share," suggested Bear.

"Yeah!" agreed Coco.

"But how do we bring light?" asked Bear.

"Let's make some lanterns," said Coco. "They're so cozy."

"I have supplies in my cave that we can use," offered Bear.

When they were finished, they loaded up Bear's sled with all their gifts.

"Ready?" asked Coco.

Bear nodded. "Ready!" but then he whispered, "And a little scared."

"It's okay to be scared," said Coco. "So long as you don't let the scariness stop you from sharing kindness and bringing light."