Meet The Author: Jalaila Hardy!
Jalaila Hardy is a passionate writer, artist, and advocate for helping young children navigate new experiences with confidence and heart. Inspired by her son’s transition into school and her own memories of growing up biracial, Jalaila created The Sandwich Way to provide a gentle, engaging tool for children as they face first-day jitters and the challenges of stepping into new environments.
With a multicultural background shaped by her Black father of mixed heritage and her Irish-descendant mother, Jalaila’s upbringing in a bilingual home and a formative childhood spent in Mexico gave her a deep appreciation for diversity, empathy, and community. These experiences shine through in her work, encouraging children to see the beauty in differences and the strength in shared experiences.
A lifelong writer and artist, Jalaila has poured her heart into The Sandwich Way, envisioning it as a global tool for easing transitions into school, building resilience, and fostering inclusion and belonging in classrooms everywhere.
Would you like to have Jalaila come read to your young learners? Or perhaps collaborate on a project or outreach program to support families and educators? Feel free to reach out!