Francis Discovers Possible

Francis Discovers Possible is a lyrical picture book from Tony Award–winning producer Ashlee Latimer and award-winning illustrator Shahrzad Maydani that models joyful self-acceptance.

Francis loves learning new words. At school, when her class is reviewing words that begin with the letter “F,” someone sneers “Fat, like Francis.” Francis always thought “fat” was a warm word—like snuggling with Mama or belly rubs for her puppy. But now “fat” feels cold, and Francis feels very small.

After school, Baba takes Francis to the park. She chooses the bench instead of the swing set and gets very quiet. But when Baba uses the word “possible,” Francis wants to know what it means. They explore the park together, discovering what’s “possible” around them. Is it like airplanes, hovering in the sky? Or does it look like planting and how some things take a long time to grow?

“Possible” makes Francis feel warm and big—like “fat,” before someone else made her feel small. This ode to self-acceptance will model for child readers what “possible” might mean in their own lives.

“Full of heart and candor, Francis teaches us that loving your body isn’t perfect or easy, but it’s always worth it.” —Julie Murphy, New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’

Ashlee Latimer is writer, producer, and director focused on creating work that supports and celebrates young people of all ages. She lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and travels as much as possible. You can find her online talking about books, theater, and Disney movies at @ALNL on Twitter and @ashleelaurynnichole on Instagram. Shahrzad Maydani is an illustrator of Iranian-English descent, raised in Niger and Kenya. Her debut children’s book, Poetree, received the Crystal Kite Award and was a Spring 2019 Kids’ Indie Next selection. She lives with her family in California. Follow her on Instagram @shahrzadmaydani.