A Beautiful Letter
Dear Friends:
One of our very favorite things about this work of writing
children’s books is hearing from readers how the books have touched their
lives.
Recently, Julia Weinstein, a wonderful school librarian in Ohio, reached out to
us. Her story moved us so much that we would like to share it with all of
you.
Here is Julia’s letter:
.....................................................................................................
A close friend of mine, Alexia Kadish, introduced me to your book
written with LeVar Burton, "The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm."
Handing
me the book, Alexia said, "Ethan is the Rhino. Scott and I are the
Rhino."
On June 29, 2013, Alexia's son, Ethan, was struck by lightning, literally out
of a blue sky. He was at a summer camp teaching two younger campers how
to play Ultimate Frisbee. Ethan survived but has significant brain
damage. He cannot walk or talk and is fed through a feeding tube.
Our community has rallied around the Kadish family to help them in whatever
ways we can, and to surround them with love, prayers and hope.
I am the librarian at a small Jewish day school, Rockwern Academy, in
Cincinnati, Ohio. Ethan is a former student and a close friend of my son,
Asher, now a freshman in high school.
This year, our 4-year-old students and our kindergartners will be
donating their weekly Tzedakah contributions to the fund to help with Ethan's
medical costs. We will be reading them your book and working with social
workers to tell them Ethan's story.
I am writing to you to let you know the impact your poem had on my
friend and simply to say, thank you.
With gratitude,
Julia Weinstein
..........................................................................................................
We were so moved by Ethan's story and so inspired by the kindness and
generosity of the students at Rockwern Academy that we sent them lots of
bookmarks along with two copies of Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs - one
for the school library and one for Ethan and his family.
You can read more about Ethan's journey www.jointeamethan.org. Help us send
healing love and light and sun kisses their way!
If you have a story
of how Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs or The Rhino Who Swallowed a
Storm has impacted someone in your life, please let us know.
Here is a picture of the Pre-K class with their teachers Toni and Maddie:
