Kristen Bell Explains the Sweet Story Behind Her New Kids' Book About Inclusion

Running out of books to read your kids? Kristen Bell can help with that. The actress and mother of two is releasing a new picture book titled The World Needs More Purple People this summer, and she spilled all the sweet details about it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday. For the past year and a half, she's collaborated with her friend, creative director Benjamin Hart, on the project, which is set to officially debut on June 2. "When we found out we would all be quarantined, we were like, 'Oh bummer, the book tour.' But then I felt in my bones that maybe this was the perfect time," she said of the forthcoming launch. We couldn't agree more!

The book teaches young readers how to be a "purple person:" someone who asks good questions, speaks up for what's right, thinks critically, laughs and lot, and works hard. "Purple is when red people and blue people can come together and people can trust and listen to each other," Kristen said, explaining the color choice.

She and Benjamin were struck with inspiration for the book's concept while enjoying dinner with their kids. "All of a sudden it occurred to us that all of our kids are absorbing all of these conversations about divisiveness," she said. "We talk about differences all day, but . . . when are we actually talking about similarities? When are we talking about trust? When are we talking about inclusion?" She ultimately wants kids to seek out the qualities of a "purple person" in others, and "hear their point of view responsibly, so we don't walk into rooms thinking we have enemies. We walk into rooms thinking we have friends." I mean, can she write a similar book for adults, too?

Excited to read The World Needs More Purple People to your kiddos? Read on to preorder it on Amazon before the June release, and get a sneak peek at some of the cute illustrations inside. Bless you, Kristen Bell, for giving us the book we all really need right now.