About the book
We are so glad you are here. This book is so very special to us and has been a dream of ours for a long time. Diversity and inclusion have always been core values of ours, as our mother was born with spina bifida and our grandfather was born with one arm. We were compelled to start this series to address the need for children to envision themselves in their storybooks. Instead of being seen because of their differences, characters will be seen with their differences, enabling children to recognize that their uniqueness has a place in their own stories and in this world. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide a platform for children to connect with relatable characters, to help children see that differences are to be accepted and celebrated, and to teach children that they can make a positive impact just by being themselves. In this inclusive story, children are encouraged to see themselves as superheroes, equipped with their own youperpowers™ to make a positive impact in the world. Through the adventures of five youperhero friends, each with their own special abilities, young readers learn the power of bravery, kindness, patience, creativity, and thoughtfulness. By the end of the book, children will be inspired to embrace their inner strengths and believe in their ability to brighten the world around them—just as they are.
our mission
Our mission is to create a more inclusive world by empowering children to see differences as a powerful and celebrated part of life. Through books that embrace diversity as a natural part of the story, we aim to promote self-acceptance, emotional growth, and the belief that every child has the ability to change the world. We strive to ensure that children can see themselves represented in the books they read, inspiring them to embrace their unique stories and strengths.
Youperheroes™ is inspired by our mom and our real-life youperhero, "Susie", who was born with spina bifida. She finds strength in even the most challenging of situations and demonstrates the power of faith and kindness.
OUR SERIES
YOUperheroes™
Find Your Youperpowers™
COMING SOON!
MEET THE CHARACTERS
Meet OUR team
alyssa
cantin-giles, ph.d.
Alyssa is a mom of two and a psychotherapist with a passion for disability advocacy. She is a proud graduate of Wake Forest University with a major in honors psychology, New York University for her master of social work and Fordham University for her Ph.D. in clinical social work. She has a private psychotherapy practice where she works with children, adolescents and adults. Alyssa’s greatest joy is spending time with her husband and children, whose support was essential in the Youperheroes endeavor. She is so thrilled to introduce the Youperheroes to the world and hopes that this is just the beginning for more inclusivity and representation in children’s book
kristine
cantin-garside, ph.d.
Krissy is a proud mom of two, an artist, a scientist and a disability advocate with a mission to make the world more accessible and inclusive. She started her studies at Wake Forest University (where she met her husband, Jordan), double majoring in Physics and Psychology. Krissy continued her education at Virginia Tech for her Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering with a biomedical concentration. She pursued her goal to help others through applying data science and digital health in oncology. Krissy is humbled and grateful for the opportunity to combine her passion and skills with her sister’s to bring Youperheroes into the lives of young children. One of her favorite pastimes is spending time with her family and reading with her daughters, and she can’t wait to add this book to their collection. She hopes that children will see their own stories represented through this series, and feel encouraged to find their power within to make a difference.
susan
krahnert cantin, m.a.
Susan was born with spina bifida and has pursued her passions with determination. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in Biology and later earned a Master of Arts degree in Occupational Therapy from New York University. As an occupational therapist, she worked in inpatient rehabilitation and had a private practice in pediatrics. Susan is married to her college sweetheart, Mike. Their greatest blessings and joy come from being parents to their two daughters and grandparents to their four grandchildren. Susan is very thankful to have been raised with a positive attitude and the belief that she could accomplish anything with hard work and determination. She has always believed in being kind to all and raised her daughters with the same belief. She is so proud to see her grandchildren being raised with those same values. Susan developed a deep commitment to inclusion, driven by her own experiences. She is passionate about providing children with characters they can identify with, particularly in books and other media. Her dream is to help children see that being their authentic selves is enough. Susan’s story is one of faith, perseverance, empathy, and a desire to create a more inclusive world for the next generation.
aly
naysmith-wirth
Aly is a communication design professional, artist and disability advocate. She currently works for a prominent agency in New York, where she combines her creative skills and marketing insight to help craft impactful pieces that support scientific and medical communications. She is a graduate of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania where she pursued her studies of the arts, design and marketing. Outside of her professional life, Aly is a devoted wife and mother of twins, one of whom was born with symbrachydactyly. This unexpected challenge has fueled her passion for advocating for limb difference awareness, and she actively works to raise visibility and understanding of the condition. Her personal and professional experiences have shaped her unique perspective, blending creativity with a deep sense of empathy and advocacy. She hopes all children will envision themselves as a Youperhero, be inspired to celebrate and welcome their differences, and empower them to confidently and proudly share their uniqueness with the world.
YOUPERPRINTS
