Good NewsVancouver girl Hannah Christensen, 11, writes children’s book in brother’s memory
Yesterday's child-author story came from a little American boy with a heart for tornado victims.
Today's story comes from a little Canadian girl keeping her baby brother's memory alive.
When Hannah Christensen was only 11, she wrote a book dealing with the loss of her 6-year-old brother Jonah. She turned her personal experience into a written tribute, with the proceeds going to Raise-a-Reader.
"Sock Wars" is Hannah's seize-the-day celebration of life is illustrated by Erika Quiroz, who identified with the Christensen family's plight all too well — she also suffered the loss of a child.
"These past few years have been the most difficult of my life," Quiroz told the Wetzel Chronicle. "But something happened to me inside when I partnered on this project. I see a light in front of me for the first time in years. Instead of walls, I now see a window; and I am going through it."
"All 10-year-old Hannah wanted to do after school was play her video game, but mom had already asked for help with laundry. When her little brother, JoJo, volunteers to help, things take a turn for the exciting as they throw themselves headlong into fun."
Trev Strong of The Arrogant Worms wrote a song for the book, which can be heard on CelebrateTheChild.ca. A free electronic version of "Sock Wars" is also on the site.
This month, Hannah has been visiting Vancouver-area libraries to promote the book, which made the "Summer Reads for Kids" list on Global.
(Photo credit: Celebrate the Child)
