Sunny Side Up

If you’re reading this, you have experienced the world through the eyes of a child. You may not remember everything about your childhood in specific terms, but you recall the wonder, the magic, the excitement of what was next. Everything was a question mark; it was all new, happy or sad. Childhood is a time of discovery, a chunk of life where you start to understand how the world works. Little bits of information are intriguing, intimidating and invigorating, sometimes all at once. 

Aiding the development of children are teachers. From the time a child is old enough to be put in daycare, he or she is interacting with a teacher, someone whose intent is to give the child the tools to prepare for the rest of his or her life.

Two teachers at Syracuse University’s Early Education and Child Care Center, which serves children of faculty, staff and students at SU, have banded together to create two children’s books. The most recent is Where’s Liam? (self-published; 24 pages; $7.99/softcover). Their first published work is titled Reagan McFagan (2010).

Where’s Liam? tells the story of a day in the life of a young boy named Liam who is more than ready to celebrate his grandfather’s birthday. The book is a collaboration between writer Fran Paige, a Lafayette resident, an infant teacher at EECCC, and an artist-illustrator, and North Syracuse resident Susan Campbell, a toddler teacher who works just down the hall from Paige.

Reagan McFagan is an illustrated story that explains Campbell’s granddaughter’s likes, dislikes, fears and activities. Paige paid to have the book self-published, and that kickstarted her love of developing books for children. 

The idea for the colorful and intriguing books came directly from Paige’s own life. Among her grandchildren are Amelia, Reagan and Liam, to whom Paige has read for countless hours. She used to read the Amelia Bedelia series, children’s books written by Peggy Parish based on a maid and her large volume of stories from living in North Africa. Paige spent time reading to Reagan and Liam, but she couldn’t find any books with main characters who shared their names.

Michael Davis Photo

“Then it just came to me,” Paige says. She was going to try her hand in writing a story based on her grandchildren’s lives, using their names and making up stories that the children would relate to. The only issue, Paige admits, is that she isn’t much of an artist. Enter Campbell, who has a degree in fine arts from Alfred University. The two decided to take Paige’s writing talent and imagination and pair it with the equally imaginative art of Campbell’s.

“I have put a pen, pastel, brush or pencil to paper or canvas whenever life gives me the opportunity,” Campbell explains. “I am very visual. I tend to think in pictures.” 

Although Campbell is an artist, she does not have much of a background in illustrating for children; her main focus has been landscape paintings. But that was never an issue for Campbell, according to Paige. “I told her what the story was, and she made it come to life in such a wonderful way,” Paige says.

So, while she had been reading a book to Amelia with a character that shared her name, Paige penned a story based upon Reagan. But what about Liam? The most recent book tells the story of the grandchild Paige made sure not to forget.

It starts out with Liam, age 5, jumping out of bed with a mile-wide grin on his face. The sun is popping up on the horizon outside the window. Liam is more than excited because it is his grandfather’s birthday. He and his family get to take a trip to his grandparents’ house for a grand celebration. On the way, Liam notices cows chewing on grass outside of a red barn, all the while the sun continues to rise. It’s shaping up to be a monumental day for little Liam.

Upon arrival, cousin Reagan is waiting on the front porch, but instead of greeting the boy, she runs upstairs to her sister Amelia, making it known there are no boys allowed. Undeterred, Liam finds Aunt Renee, who is taking care of her newborn girl Adrianna. Liam wants to see the baby, but is told he is being too loud for the infant. Liam trudges on.

After being further told that he’s not allowed to help grandma bake the birthday cake, Liam goes outside. The smile on his face has soured to a look of mild trepidation. Outside, he encounters Ebby, his grandparents’ dog. Liam tries to get a game of fetch going, but Ebby is more interested in swimming in the pond. Trying to keep his spirits high, Liam finds his parents helping set up the picnic tables and birthday signs outside, but is told he is too dirty to assist.

Beginning to deflate, Liam runs into older cousin Jack, who is gallivanting with a new bike. Jack tells Liam to go away because he’s not big enough to ride. The look on Liam’s face turns legitimately sad; still, the sun remains high. In an attempt to keep his spirits up, Liam chases a butterfly up to the barn, where his grandfather is picking strawberries. Liam finds out he’s clean enough, old enough, big enough and is more than allowed to help pick the berries. It’s a sense of discovery, something Liam had been seeking all day. The smile returns to the boy’s face.

All the while the family notices Liam is missing. A search ensues while the sun stays high. Liam and grandfather stroll back toward the party, where Liam receives praise for the juicy and delicious berries he picked. Everyone is happy to have Liam around, and the feeling is mutual. The party goes off and the entire family comes together for a grand celebration. Liam, in his own words, had a great day.

“We put the sun in there as a way for the children who read the book to pick up on a theme,” Paige explains. “This came to be because of mine and Susan’s collaboration. We just decided it was a great idea.”

For Campbell, Where’s Liam? was a joy to illustrate. The book also teaches some valuable lessons.

“I am hopeful that the book will allow children the opportunity to explore emotions, through both the text and the pictures,” she says. “Often when we are reading to the children {at EECCC} we will ask them, ‘How do you think he is feeling?’ or ‘Why do you think he is feeling that way? Look at {Liam’s} face. What do you see?’

“Building empathy takes time and patience but it is such an important skill to teach children,” Campbell continues. “For the children at the center I am hopeful that they will come away with what it takes to make a book, how long the process can be and what exactly it means to be an author and an illustrator. I would be thrilled if it simply stimulates all children to draw, draw, draw.”

The book costs $7.99, and can be purchased at the SU bookstore, 303 University Place, inside the Schine Student Center. For more information on the book, send Paige an email at frantpaige@aol.com.   o

Fran Paige and Susan Campbell, along with their books, will be in attendance at the Holiday Arts, Crafts and Lifestyle Show throughout Shoppingtown Mall, 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt, Friday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 15, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 16, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.