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Jonathan Van Ness Pens Children’s Book About Nonbinary Guinea Pig

"Growing up, the things that made me unique were not always celebrated."

Get it, lil' Peanut!

Jonathan Van Ness, resident grooming expert on Netflix’s Emmy-winning Queer Eye reboot, has announced his first children's picture book.

Peanut Goes for the Gold, which follows the adventures of a gender nonbinary guinea pig with big dreams, was inspired by his own childhood guinea pig.

Van Ness, 32, "brings his signature humor and positivity to his empowering first picture book, inspiring readers of all ages to love being exactly who they are," according to an official synopsis.

"Peanut just has their own unique way of doing things. Whether it's cartwheeling during basketball practice or cutting their own hair, this little guinea pig puts their own special twist on life. So when Peanut decides to be a rhythmic gymnast, they come up with a routine that they know is absolutely perfect, because it is absolutely, one hundred percent Peanut."

HarperCollins

Van Ness came out publicly last summer as nonbinary and gender nonconforming.

"Growing up, the things that made me unique were not always celebrated, and I wanted to do something that would inspire kids to celebrate the things that make them special," he told People. "With that being said, I’m so excited to announce my debut children’s book, Peanut Goes for the Gold, an inspiring story of a guinea pig rhythmic gymnastics prodigy."

"Having had the opportunity to work with Jonathan Van Ness on Peanut Goes for the Gold has truly been a dream come true,” said executive editor David Linker at HarperCollins. "He’s an absolute inspiration. Just like Peanut, Jonathan embodies the idea that no dream is impossible when you put your whole heart into it, and I’m so thrilled to have had the opportunity to help Jonathan translate that spirit into his amazing first-ever book for kids." The book features illustrations by Gillian Reid.

Last fall Van Ness released his memoir, Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love, in which he opened up about being HIV-positive.

Peanut Goes for the Gold, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, is out March 31.

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