BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A author from Western New York is hoping to start a conversation about self-acceptance with his new children's book.
Called “The Boy with the Rainbow Heart,” the book centers around a child who is a bit different, but chooses to accept those differences and change some minds along the way.
Western New York native Will Mason is the man behind the book and says his sister's struggles as an LGBTQ teen inspired it.
Mason is now partnering with Kickstarter and local schools to get the books into as many hands as possible.
He's already set to donate more than 100 copies to Buffalo Public Schools and says for every thousand collected after that, he’ll donate more to a different district.
"The boy is really just a symbol for any kid who feels different, to be who they want to be and to not be scared and to know that as long as they are themselves everything will be OK and that they're perfect, however they are, as long as they're kind,” said Mason.
The book was launched in partnership with the Western New York Pride Center. It's scheduled to hit shelves in December.