This Easter, as I reflect on the ‘Child’s Guide’ series, my thoughts turn to Susan Heyboer O’Keefe, who initiated this remarkable journey 23 years ago. It was Susan who reached out to me with the idea of illustrating a series that would gently guide children through spiritual teachings in a Catholic school context. Her insight and encouragement were pivotal, and her remarks about my art, highlighting its “light-filled colors and quiet thoughtfulness,” have stayed with me as a source of inspiration.

Susan’s passing leaves a void, but her legacy endures through the success of the series, which now boasts over 110,000 copies sold in English and Chinese. Working alongside talented authors like Kathy Della Torre O’Keefe, Sue Stanton, and Elizabeth Ficocelli, we’ve created interactive books that engage and challenge young readers to explore life’s deeper meanings.