About Me

First Grade – Look, No Teeth!

Hi! My name is Deborah.

I was lucky to grow up in a family that loved books.  One of my favorite memories is going to the public library every week to check out more books.  Having books to read is my security blanket.  In fact, one time on the way to the emergency room, I stopped by my house because I didn’t have a book with me.  I mean, who wants to be stuck in the hospital without at least one book, right?!

I’ve always liked children’s books, but they became my focus because of my dad.  In retirement, my dad volunteered at a low-income school tutoring children.  He was committed to sharing the joy of reading with his students and loved giving each student a book of their own.  He passed away in 2002, and that started me on my own mission to continue his legacy and encourage children to love reading books.

My Dad had a passion for children’s books.

Since my dad passed away, every year I give books, signed and personalized by the author and/or illustrator, to the children of friends and family.  I currently have approximately 50 children on my holiday giving list, in addition to the children’s books I donate to local charities.  Every child should have the opportunity to read and to see themselves in the pages regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or social status.

I love attending book festivals in person (and now virtually).  For each book festival, I review the children’s authors and illustrators attending, try to read all their books (from the library of course), and then pick out the perfect book for each child on my list.  Reading and choosing the books and hearing the authors and illustrators tell their stories is the best!  And, as my large stack of books is being signed, I have another opportunity to share the story of my dad’s passion for children’s books.  And now I have the opportunity to share it with you.  I’m not sure where this journey will take me, but I know that good books will get me there!

My dad, “Mebs”