I got the nicest email today straight out of the blue. This wonderful stranger, father of this beautiful baby girl had this to say.
"Dear Laurel (I hope you don't mind the imformality of my greeting),
I just wanted to share a picture with you of my 7 month old daughter Brooklyn as we read your book, "I Love MY Daddy Because..." during our weekly trip to Barnes & Noble.
As we approached the giant display of Father's Day books, she looked around and reached for your book first. After thoroughly enjoying the taste of the book, she listened intently while I read to her while she stared and poked at the pictures of all the animals.
I think this picture of her captured the moment as I stopped reading for a minute to reposition the book.
Thank you for creating a timeless moment for me and my daughter and a picture all my family and friends have enjoyed and smiled at."
Warm regards,
M.L.
This simple random act of kindness changed my whole day.
Can you see me smiling?
Thank you, M.L., and you too Ms. Brooklyn ;)
To my friends: My mother died in 1985 and I was with her when she took her final breath. My father died 13 months later. These books are my humble tribute to them for doing the best they knew how. The books were published in 1991 and are still going strong many printings later, in many languages and many formats. I feel blessed even though I didn't get to illustrate them.
Maybe this is my parents way of finally being there for me and letting me know I did okay for a poor kid from the inner city deep in the bowels of Boston.
xoxo
