A Note from the Author
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Growing up the youngest of three siblings, I relied on my older sisters for a lot. Piggy back rides, friendship advice, all of their hand-me-downs. The list goes on. But most importantly, I relied on them to help me grieve our dad. You see, my dad died when I was just two years old, so I grew up remembering him not from my own memories but from the stories of those around me. With every year that passed without my dad, my family would find special ways to remember him. This experience of not remembering, or actively forgetting, someone you love was shared among me and my sisters, and it shaped so much of our grief. In fact, the anxiety of forgetting a loved one is common among grieving children. However, I often felt unrepresented in this experience. Whether it was children’s books or other grief-related media, I always wished they addressed the fear of forgetting and focused on the important role of remembering in the grieving process. That's why I decided to write Pieces of You. I hope this book inspires you to give yourself grace when trying to remember your loved ones.
One major way I celebrate my dad is through music. My dad played the bass guitar and loved the Beatles so much that he played in a cover band. This love has been passed down, like when my sisters and I sing “Here Comes the Sun”' every summer. Whenever I listen to the Beatles, I think of my dad!
Another way I honor my dad is through food. When it’s my dad’s birthday, we like to celebrate by baking his favorite cake: yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting. This is also my favorite type of birthday cake! We also get his favorite pizza and chocolates when we visit his hometown on the East Coast!
I also remember my dad through pictures! I love to look through family photo books chronicling parts of my dad’s life - all the way from growing up in Massachusetts to being my dad years later. It is fun to see him as a kid all those years ago!
How I Remember
I’ve had lots of time to honor and remember my dad in different ways, despite having no memories of my own.
While there are things I will never know about my dad, I like to honor him with every piece that I still have. And the ways we remember people will look different for everyone. Isn't that nice?
Simply put, I grew up with a love for reading and drawing. As a kid, my mom would read me a book every day, and I remember falling in love with both the stories and the illustrations. Soon enough, my sisters and I had our own library cards and wagons full of books to get through. I spent my mornings doodling on scrap paper and nights reading through stacks of books. Looking back, what I loved most about children’s literature was its ability to tell complex stories in a beautiful way. As I grew up grieving my dad, I found myself looking for books that reflected my experiences and all of the “big” feelings I had or “messy” emotions I couldn't quite sort through.
As a senior in college studying art and writing, I felt called to revisit those experiences through children's literature, as it is a crucial tool in fostering understanding among young readers. I believe that children are more-than-capable of reading about “big” topics and emotions like grief and remembering. In fact, based on my own experiences, I know they are.
So, if you’re wondering why I wrote this book, with these topics, in this medium:
I only have one thing to say. Why not?