Dare To Be Me

Dare to be Me contains text and rhythm worthy of a song—this book will help children cultivate the courage to be their truest selves!

"Insightful and fun as it encourages self-expression, creativity, and living an authentic life, Dare to Be Me is a delightful picture book that celebrates the uniqueness of every child." —Foreword Reviews

Today’s a blank page, a plain white Tee
I wake up brave and I dare to be me

In Dare to be Me, children are encouraged to face the world as their truest, most fantastic, and authentic selves. With text and rhythm by Kaci Bolls & Nathan Meckel, and vibrant illustrations by Ana Martín Larrañaga, this “start-your-day” story will help young readers brave the most essential part of every day: being yourself, and nobody else.

Kaci Bolls M.Ed was recognized in 2021 as one of Metro Nashville TN's top elementary teachers of the year. She is a children’s music artist with multiple SiriusXM top 10 hits including the #1 song “Dare to Be Me,” which was licensed by Malcolm Gladwell for his podcast “Revisionist History.” Prior to becoming a rock-star kindergarten teacher, Kaci spent over a decade working with country music's finest musicians and songwriters as a session and backup singer and songwriter. Kaci lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and their two bird dog brothers.

Nathan Meckel’s music appears on dozens of albums and in over 40 films & television shows. He’s performed at Lincoln Center & co-written songs for kids with children’s authors Peter Reynolds, Susan Verde, and Barbara Joosse. "Dare To Be Me," co-written with Kaci Bolls, reached #1 on SiriusXM’s KPL and was featured in Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast, “Revisionist History.” He’s also an award-winning music video director and co-founder of the film production company, Stereophonic Films. Nathan lives with his wife in Nashville, TN. They have two kids and two furry friends.

Ana Larrañaga was born in San Sebastian, Spain, and grew up in the countryside of Castilla, in a huge family, surrounded by cousins and animals. At school, she drew little stories on every possible piece of paper. In Salamanca, where she studied Fine Arts, teachers told her to draw very big things. When she finished her studies, she returned to her small drawings and became an award-winning illustrator. Ana lives in Germany with her husband, three sons, and one cat. She likes swimming in the sea in the summer and knitting in winter.