Amanda Gorman celebrates the strength of girls in her new picture book.

Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history at age 22 when she performed “The Hill We Climb” – a spoken-word poem about the pursuit of justice in America – at President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021. Since then, she has co-chaired the Met Gala, been nominated for a Grammy Award, and founded the Writing Change Initiative to support grassroots organizations dedicated to promoting literacy as a path to social change. She has also written three children’s books with the aim of inspiring the next generation.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the poet and activist discussed the message behind her new picture book girls on the rise, illustrated by Loveis Wise.

“I really wanted to focus on the idea that we are stronger when we stand in solidarity and that is a message that I think is particularly relevant for young girls, but I think it goes beyond them too,” says Gorman. “Hopefully the young boys or non-binary children who read this book will feel a sense of connection across gender lines.”

Girls on the rise is a tribute to young girls, “all beautiful, not because of their looks, but because they face fear,” according to publisher Penguin Young Readers. The text that accompanies Loveis Wise’s illustrations is based on Gorman’s 2021 poem “We Rise.”

Although the book’s genre and format naturally lends itself to a younger audience, Gorman hopes her new book gets into the hands of people of all ages.

“You write not just for the child, but also for the village that is raising the child,” Gorman says. “So you have to create a story that is complex and deep enough and speaks to multiple generations and different backgrounds, but has the same place in the heart of the family.”

When the project came together, she gave a lot of thought to how readers would actually read her book – from adult to child, from child to younger child. The latter was Gorman’s childhood experience, she says, and she hopes her writing inspires children to read to other children in the same way.

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For those looking to follow in her footsteps as a writer or creative, Gorman offers some advice.

“Read as much as you can. Read what you don’t like, read what you do. Write as much as you can… and then try to find kinship and allies where you can,” says Gorman, who finds support in her own writing group.

“Writing can feel like a solitary act, and finding friendship in it is one of the most important assets you can have as a creator,” she adds.

Girls on the rise is now available wherever books are sold.