It's been a while since I've shared an update, and I have a LOT of good news.
First, The Heart That Found You has been named a finalist for an IBPA Book Award in the Children's Picture Book (0–3 Years) category. The IBPA Book Awards recognize excellence in editorial content, design, and production quality and are judged by a panel of industry professionals including librarians, booksellers and editors. To have the book recognized for both the story and the craft behind it is a big deal and I am so grateful.
The book also recently received a thoughtful review from the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), a nationally recognized organization dedicated to supporting adoptive families. Lauren Lynch, an adoptive mom and training coordinator at C.A.S.E., highlighted how the book incorporates diversity, represents many kinds of families including single-parent families, and offers a gentle way to open adoption conversations with young children. You can read the full review here: https://adoptionsupport.org/freeresource/book-review-the-heart-that-found-you/
In March, I visited first graders at Saint Apollinaris Catholic School in Napa for a reading and signing. We talked about how books are written and how stories come to life. The kids were wonderful, and their questions and enthusiasm reminded me why school visits matter so much.
Speaking of kids connecting with the story, I have to share this one. A little girl named Pepper recently drew pictures inspired by the book and proudly announced she was drawing "like from Lily's mom's book!" I may be biased, but it might be the best review I've received yet!
I also want to take a moment to celebrate my amazing illustrator, Carole Chevalier. From the very beginning, Carole poured so much care into bringing this story to life. She started with character studies and storyboards before developing the vibrant, joyful illustrations that make the book what it is. She recently shared her process and behind-the-scenes artwork on her website, and it's a wonderful peek into how much intention went into every page. If you're curious about the creative journey behind the illustrations, I'd encourage you to check it out: carolechevalier.co.uk/work/heart-that-found-you
Coming up next: I'll be doing a storytime reading at Black Bird Bookstore & Café in San Francisco (4541 Irving St) on Saturday, April 25 at 9:30 AM. If you're in the Outer Sunset, I'd love to see you there.
I'll keep the events page on my website updated with future readings and appearances. And I have a couple of requests, the kind that make a real difference for a book like this.
If you've read the book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon, even if you didn't purchase it there. Reviews help other families discover the book through search, and even a sentence or two goes a long way.
One of the best ways to support the book is to recommend it. Most libraries let you suggest titles right from their website and a quick mention to a local bookstore or school goes a long way too. The book is distributed by Simon & Schuster, so ordering is easy through regular channels. Every recommendation helps this story find its way to more families.
Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey. Every share, every review and every little heart drawn on a piece of paper means the world. 💛
0 comments