Although she lent her voice to Disney’s Princess Tiana, in her book, Anika Noni Rose writes of a princess whose perfect plan sometimes goes awry: Tiana’s Perfect Plan, released October 22, is the children’s author’s latest, an exploration of why sometimes it’s okay to lose. The author’s inspiration was her desire to create a story about stress and disappointment for the very young, of whom these pressures are still part of everyday life. The message of the movie by Tiana is to teach kids that, in the end, winning really isn’t everything and that the pursuit of perfection can create so much unnecessary stress.
“Perfectionism is something that I struggle with,” shared Rose, in an exclusive sit-down with PEOPLE. She hopes her book helps children grasp the idea that it’s perfectly fine not to be perfect. “In the back of their minds, they’ll grasp that perfection isn’t a real concept,” she added. And with Tiana, through that journey, she emphasizes that true success is doing your best regardless of the outcome.
Tiana’s Story That Encourages Emotional Growth
Tiana’s Perfect Plan is about Princess Tiana getting ready to welcome Prince Naveen’s parents for Mardi Gras. As she tries to make the event even better, she learns that being perfect isn’t the most important thing. The story, which is fun and interesting, tells kids that their hard work is enough and that they already have what they need.
Rose wants kids to see through Tiana’s story that it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them. She made this book to be fun but also to help kids learn to accept themselves. “We just want to do our best and give our best,” Rose said, showing that making mistakes can be a helpful part of growing up.
Rediscovering a Childhood Dream of Rose
Moreover, not only did Tiana’s Perfect Plan instill meaningful life experiences to the readers but also helped Rose restore a cherished dream she had forgotten. As little as she was, she wanted to be a writer. It was quite a stirring confrontation for her mother regarding the book. “She called me crying and said, ‘Anika, it’s like you have always wanted to write a book as a little you,’” Rose recalled. This excursion has not only helped Rose achieve a goal that she has held for such a long time, but it also reinforced her conviction of the importance of such a belief as tenacity and faith.
Rose wishes that Tiana’s Perfect Plan would encourage readers to follow their aspirations and that they should not feel restricted to always seek perfection. The book can now be purchased in all places that sell children literature.
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