How It All Came To Be
Peter’s Place is thrilled to announce the publication of our very first children’s book, When I Remember, The Tears Come! This marks the first time a grieving center in the area has published its own children’s book. While the story is written for children ages 4-12, we believe that readers of all ages can find comfort and meaning in its pages. Our hope is that when young children and families read this story, it will help them feel less alone in their grief.
So, how did this special project come to life?
Jane McNeil, Board Emeritus, and her organization, The Lily Foundation, played a pivotal role in funding the collaboration and publication of our children’s book.
When McNeil was orphaned at the age of 13 there were no books to help her process her grief. This experience made her want to create a book that could reach grieving children, and her connection to Peter’s Place made it important to honor Peter Morsbach in the story. After a chance meeting with author Tiffany Joyner, Jane immediately knew she was the perfect person to collaborate with on the story. The final book featuring illustrations from Shalaya Holliday is a great source of pride for her.
“Every time I walk into Peter’s Place, I am so grateful to be a part of an organization that exists for young people and their families who are going through a very difficult time in their lives. At 13, when I lost both of my parents, there were no books available to me or a grieving community to be a part of where I could feel less alone and isolated with my grief. This book which I am so honored to sponsor will hopefully be a helpful guide for young children to begin the process of coping with the depth of their loss.” said McNeil.
On behalf of the entire Peter’s Place Community, we extend a very special “thank you” to Jane McNeil – it is because of her vision, support, passion, and guidance that this dream has come true.
(Members of the Peter’s Place Board of Directors and staff are pictured above.)
When I Remember, The Tears Come is available for sale in paperback on Amazon and BookBaby. By purchasing our children’s book, a portion of the proceeds will go towards supporting Peter’s Place and our grief support programs.