Trevor Noah says he was told as a child to “make an effort” to maintain connections with some people in his life.

In a new interview with The Guardian, the South African comedian shared the worst advice he received as a child.

“I think the worst advice was that you have to try to adapt. You would meet someone you didn't get along with and they would tell you, 'Just tolerate it for now.' Only later in life will you…” “Realize that prison comes with not being yourself around the people you want to build a life with,” the 40-year-old said.

Trevor says he would give different pearls of wisdom to children.

“The advice I would give a child today would be, 'Be yourself as best you can.' Some people you lose along the way, but the ones you keep will know the real you,” he told the Guardian.

The former “Daily Show” host shared the interview as part of the promotion of his new children's book “Into the Uncut Grass,” illustrated by Sabina Hahn.

“In the tradition of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, it is a beautifully illustrated fable about a young child's journey into the world beyond the shadow of his home, a magical landscape where he knows the secrets of sharing, connecting and finding discovers peace with the people we love,” the book’s summary says.

Trevor says he has always wanted to create a picture book.

“It's an idea I've always romanticized because the picture books I grew up with, like Where the Wild Things Are, were some of my favorite fables and stories. With children's picture books, you can't spend 400 pages getting into complicated things. “I guess what surprised me was how difficult it is to be so succinct and at the same time capture feelings and emotions,” he told the Guardian.

During an interview on The View, Trevor praised his mother Patricia Noah for encouraging his love of reading.

“I was influenced by the books I read as a child. The only thing my mother could always get me was books. Some of them even took part in these programs where you paid in installments, like a small break rent, and.” They always sent you a book from the series. And she always made sure I had books in my life, and I'm always grateful to her for that,” he said.

Other stars who have written children's books include Serena Williams, Kelly Clarkson, Channing Tatum and Meghan Markle.

Main image source: Instagram/Trevor Noah