Tamron Hall just released her first children's book, Harlem Honey: The Adventures of a Curious Kid, adding another special title to her ever-growing list of accomplishments. But how did the idea of writing a book for kids even come about? Well, she has a very special someone to thank for inspiring this new chapter in her life.
When appearing on The Deja Vu Show on March 25, the TV host got personal about her inspiration behind penning her first children's book. As she shared on the radio program, she wanted to write Harlem Honey with her son Moses (whom she shares with husband Steve Greener) in mind. What's more, the story of a shy young boy learning to make new friends in a brand-new neighborhood mirrors a similar situation that Tamron experienced with her son in the early stages of his life.
"[Moses] is what they refer to as a pandemic baby," she shared in a clip posted on Instagram. "[The world] was shut down like the rest of us, and I extended my time in the home longer because I'm a single-hosted show ... So my son, therefore, stayed inside a lot longer ... Fast forward, he's outside and he's a lot more shy than I ever imagined. I mean, at home, he is talkity-talk. He is Mr. Got Something to Say About Everything. Then we would go out, and like a lot of kids — with or without a pandemic — he would hide behind me."
That's not all Tamron had to say about Moses being the catalyst for her to write a children's book.
With Moses seemingly experiencing anxiety about navigating the world for the first time, Tamron decided she'd pen something that celebrated going to different places and new situations. As for how she chose to do it, she named the main character after her son and had the setting based in Harlem — a place that felt safe to both her and Moses.
"I thought, OK, what's going on here?" she added. "How do I have a age-appropriate conversation about fear and about how on the other side of fear usually is something really cool? ... It's natural to be somewhat intimidated by a new room, a new place, a new situation. And so, with this book, I thought, 'Let's set out on this adventure and let's celebrate curiosity. Let's talk about new places and new faces.' I thought that our townhouse in Harlem was a great launch point, because where you first learn the world is the first step you take out of your front door."
This is such an amazing thing that Tamron did for Moses — and for all the kids and parents who will get to experience the book too. As for how Tamron feels about Moses being a driving force for this stage in her career, she said it simply in a heartfelt post on Instagram.
"My manager and muse," she affectionately wrote on March 25. "Harlem Honey The Adventure of a Curious Kid. Bedtime, daytime, anytime. And perfect gift."
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
