Tabitha Brown is honoring her community in the best way she knows how — through storytelling.

Exclusively opening up to PEOPLE about her first-ever children’s book, Hello There, Sunshine, from the actress and entrepreneur, 46, spoke about growing up in Eden, N.C. in an “amazing childhood filled with love and support.”

For Brown, writing a story for children about how they bring love and light into the world was one of the best ways she could think of to honor her mother, who died from ALS complications in 2007.

“I am who I am because of community so this was a small way to say thank you!” she tells PEOPLE.

Hello There, Sunshine is told in the form of a “cheerful read-aloud” and inspiring story about “positivity, kindness, and letting your light shine,” according to an official synopsis.

“Every morning, young Tabitha wakes up and greets the sun. She loves how it brings everyone JOY. But one day she wakes up and the sun is missing! So Tab hops on her strawberry shortcake bike with her puppy in tow and makes it her business to find the sun,” the synopsis reads. “Can she do it? Or will Tabitha find out that sometimes the shine we’re looking for is inside of us?”

According to the Emmy-winning Brown — who has previously written works for adults like her book Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business) — this story for children aims to teach kids just how much they brighten up the world around them when they become a part of a community.

“I wanted to share a message to children that they are light! That being kind and helping others can brighten someone’s day!” Brown tells PEOPLE. “This was a lesson my mother taught me and it has stayed with me forever so it was also another way to honor her.”

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Brown also shares that teaching kids to be their authentic selves is one of the biggest reasons she wanted to write this story. “It’s important for us all to be our true selves but even more important for children as they are learning about the world everyday and so much is changing,” she says. “But one thing that can remain the same is our truth and authenticity! If we get that understanding when we are young, I believe we are happier adults later.”

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This is Brown’s first foray into children’s literature — although she’s been lauded for her Emmy-winning kids’ show Tab Time. And Hello There, Sunshine was such fun that she’s already gearing up to write even more stories for kids.

For now, though, she simply hopes young readers (as well as the adults who might help read it with them) take away a heartfelt message from the book.

“I hope that the message ‘We all have the ability to be sunshine in our own lives and others’ shines through and is received!” she says.

Hello There, Sunshine is available now, wherever books are sold.