Philanthropic celebrity couple, R&B soulstress Ciara and NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, will have their picture book published in the first quarter of 2022.
Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, will publish WHY NOT YOU? the couple’s picture book, featuring illustrations by Jessica Gibson.
In a written statement, Ciara and Russell Wilson shared their
excitement, saying: “As parents to three amazing children, we know how important it is to share the gift of reading with kids at an early age. Through this book, we hope to not only encourage kids worldwide to read but also inspire them to pursue their dreams with a ‘Why Not You’ attitude. We’ve been so grateful to the team at Random House for making this project, a dream of ours, a reality.”The book is scheduled to be published on March 1, 2022, with an expected first printing of 125,000 copies.
Back in 2014, Ciara and Russell launched their organization, the Why Not You Foundation, to empower youth to live and lead with a “Why Not You” attitude. Their picture book, aptly named after the foundation, is an extension of their larger mission, written to uplift the youngest readers and encourage them to pursue their wildest dreams and believe in themselves.
The Why Not You academy is officially open. The new high school is a partnership between authorized charter public school leaders Garth Reeves and Scott Canfield and the Why Not You Foundation. The charter public school, which is tuition-free, will operate in full accordance with the Washington state charter school law.
Earlier this year, the football player and his wife signed a first-look television and film deal with Amazon Studios. The married couple intends on developing and producing scripted series and original films with Amazon Studios through their production company, Why Not You Productions.