Story
Charity M. Harris is a Southern California children’s author, disability advocate, and founder of Purple Diamond Press and Charity’s Readers for Tomorrow. After facing employment discrimination because she uses a wheelchair, Charity built her own career—creating award-winning, inclusive children’s books that are now read in classrooms across the country. Through her What If We Were® series and school-wide SEL Kindness Program, she partners with schools, nonprofits, and sponsors to bring diverse stories, author visits, and free books to students who need them most.
As Seen In
Purple Diamond Press, Inc., founded by author C.M. Harris, is contributing to the evolution of children's literature with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and social-emotional learning.
Harris’s entry into the world of publishing came after facing employment discrimination due to a disability. This experience led her to create books designed to empower and uplift young readers.
In addition to her work in publishing, Harris founded Charity’s Readers for Tomorrow, a literacy initiative focused on providing books to underserved schools.
As Seen In & Partnered With:
BBC CBeebies • ABC7 Los Angeles • San Francisco 49ers • USA News • Digital Journal • VoyageLA • CanvasRebel • Women’s Insider • Colorful Pages • Quarterly Magazine • Readers’ Favorite Book Awards • Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator • Independent Book Publishers Association Award Winner
C.M. Harris Interview w/ ABC7 La News, Rachel Brown
April 2022
ABC7 Los Angeles – Interview with Rachel Brown
Charity M. Harris joined ABC7 anchor Rachel Brown to share how her own experiences with disability and bias inspired her bestselling book What If We Were All The Same! and her mission to bring inclusive stories into every classroom.
"Books have the power to change a child's world, and at Purple Diamond Press, we make sure every child sees themselves in the pages they read."
-- C.M. Harris, Founder of Purple Diamond Press
Featured Article
"Purple Diamond Press, founded by bestselling children's author C.M. Harris, announces its continued mission to promote diversity, social-emotional learning, and literacy through impactful storytelling. With a growing collection of books designed to inspire inclusion, resilience, and kindness, the company is making waves in the publishing industry while directly engaging with educators, parents, and young readers."
San Francisco 49ers – Literacy Partnership
The San Francisco 49ers purchased more than 2,000 copies of What If We Were All The Same! to donate to students in the Oakland school district. One of the players read the book aloud to a classroom, helping launch Charity’s work into districts across California.
“Different can be wonderful, and even quite colorful, anything else would be unsuitable.”
"What If We Were All The Same! is a children’s book that embraces the beautiful differences we all have in relation to height, hair type, abilities and much more. What kind of world would we be living in if everyone looked the same and did the same things? —- a boring one!"
BBC CBeebies – Lunchtime Storytime Reading
At the start of the pandemic, the BBC’s CBeebies channel featured What If We Were All The Same! during their lunchtime story hour, introducing Charity’s message of acceptance and inclusion to families across the globe.
Frankie B.
C.M. Harris' Media Kit
VoyageLa
Magazine
Feature
Canvas Rebel
Magazine
Feature
Quarterly Magazine
Festure
Finalist in the 2025 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards in the Children’s Christian category.
God’s Gifts To Us” by C.M. Harris, a 2025 Readers’ Favorite Award Finalist, is a heartwarming Christian children’s book that celebrates everyday blessings—family, friends, nature, and God’s love. A joyful read for homes, classrooms, and Sunday schools. Available now on Amazon.
Bestselling & Teacher-Loved Title
Charity’s flagship book, What If We Were All The Same!, has sold tens of thousands of copies, been chosen as an Amazon “Teacher’s Pick,” and remains a favorite for lessons on diversity, friendship, and inclusion.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Recognition
Through Purple Diamond Press, Charity has been honored for her ongoing work in promoting diverse, disability-inclusive children’s books and partnering with schools to improve school climate, PBIS, and social-emotional learning through literature.
About Purple Diamond Press & Charity’s Readers for Tomorrow
Purple Diamond Press, Inc., founded by bestselling children’s author C.M. Harris, publishes inclusive, high-quality books that center diversity, disability representation, and social-emotional learning. From picture books to series, each title is designed to spark meaningful conversations about kindness, courage, inclusion, and resilience.
Charity also founded Charity’s Readers for Tomorrow, a literacy nonprofit that partners with sponsors to bring free author visits and book donations to Title I and underserved schools. Together, these two arms of her work help ensure every child can see themselves on the page—and feel seen in the world.
Press Contact:
For interviews, speaking invitations, or feature requests, please contact: books@cmharrisbooks.com