About the Author
Sedrick T. Ford
Children’s Book Author and Advocate for Literary and Cultural Diversity
I was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in a family with both parents working in the automotive industry when business was good. I had an older sister, Shevette, seven and a half years older than me. My father served in the army before returning to work for Chrysler, and my mother worked for General Motors. They were strict but loving, and we never lacked anything.
My family was very close and we often went on vacations, usually fishing trips. Going to Canada every year was one of our favorite getaways: we fished and enjoyed those moments together. My grandfather, who worked for Ford, always joined us. He lived on the ground floor of our home and spent weekends in Ohio with my grandmother.
I was tall for my age, so I ran track for a few years and later played football — but that’s when I started getting into trouble.
About the Confidence Builder Series
Every child deserves to feel special, confident, and loved.
The “Confidence Builder Series” is designed especially for children aged 8 to 14. Its goal is to help them develop the self-confidence needed to value themselves — no matter what challenges they face.
As adults, we must always do our part to ensure that children grow up with confidence, ready to face each day — even the hardest ones — knowing that they are special, capable of achieving their dreams, and that they belong.
As children, many of us were mocked or left out because of how we dressed, what we didn’t have, or whether we were part of the “popular” group. Bullying was even harder if we weren’t well-liked. The social pressure, fear of rejection, and desire to fit in made many feel unwanted, worthless, and isolated — sometimes leading to early stages of depression.
Today’s bullies have almost unlimited access to social media, allowing them to spread harm and influence others to join in. Their attacks are more aggressive and persuasive, targeting emotionally fragile children who can’t always defend themselves.
These children may fall into depression and harm themselves or others. We must stop these behaviors before they take root.
This program gives millions of children the chance to understand that they are not alone — that self-confidence is the key to happiness throughout their youth. It helps them become fulfilled adults, never fearing to be different, because their confidence tells them they don’t have to be.
Ignoring a program as valuable as “Confidence Builder” would mean missing a unique opportunity to save lives and shape the future of children worldwide.
This program should be in every school, daycare, and learning institution around the world. I would rather offer this program to a child than buy a phone or computer.
Please, let’s not delay giving our children access to this program. The longer they wait, the deeper they fall into depression — feeling unloved, unworthy, and unsure of themselves. Every child deserves love, courage, and the conviction that they are special, no matter what.
— Sedrick T. Ford