Matthew Cherry working on picture book, ‘Hair Love.’

NEW YORK – Matthew A. Cherry, a filmmaker and former NFL player, is working on a picture book.

Cherry and illustrator Vashti Harrison will collaborate on “Hair Love,” Dial Books for Young Readers told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “Hair Love” will tell of an African-American father and his work on his daughter’s hair as she prepares for a special outing. The book, scheduled for spring 2019, is based on an animated short film by Cherry.

Cherry was a wide receiver for the Jackson Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens, among other teams, before he retired in 2007. His other films include “The Last Fall.”