Dad Storybooks

I'm proud to be a part of Cleveland Kids' Book Bank's campaign!

If we want kids to be proficient readers, we need to make sure they see relatable images in the pages of their books. I'm so proud to be on the Books Like Me committee for Kids' Book Bank. Take a few minutes and learn more Thursday at this online event:

Changing the Narrative | Kids' Book Bank 2026 Changing the Narrative Events Throughout the year, Kids’ Book Bank staff will host events around the theme of Books Change the Narrative. These free online and in-person events are open to anyone interested in learning about the Kids’ Book Bank, literacy in Cleveland, and how partners are w...

This is not a badly cropped photo. 🙂 It's a photoillustration I made, because they don't let you take pictures inside juvenile detention buildings. I wanted to give you an idea of the beautiful reunions I witnessed when I recently spoke to dads about how to make reading time fun at the DYS Fatherhood Summit at Cuyahoga Hills. These young fathers touched my heart; I was inspired to see their joy when their kids entered the room. Their faces lit up! Thanks, Passages, Connecting Fathers & Families for inviting me to participate. And a special thank you to Greater Cleveland Community Credit Union for stepping up and generously donating 50 free books for these incarcerated dads. Your support means the world to me.

I made a new friend yesterday, someone who loves the Cleveland Kids' Book Bank as much as I do. Please follow artist Steve Garfunkel -- he's a retired lawyer who donated some of his beautiful mixed-media collages to raise funds for the Book Bank. I fell in love with this piece, and took it with me. 🥰 It has found a new home.

I felt the love today, for sure! Thank you to James Chandler Oscar Waters IV Mahogani Graves Natalie Zangara Friedl plus all my new friends who supported our Books & Brunch event at the book bank today. I got to talk about the campaign, which is near and dear to my heart, and explain why I believe Dads (as well as kids) need to see images that look like them in children's books.