In the picture my mom, myself and my brother.

My name is Debbie, just like the child in this book. My mother always put me to sleep each night by telling me a story. One night, I had a dream about the story she told me. Then, in school, I wrote a poem about it. I was in 4th grade. This book is based off that poem. This book is dedicated to my mother. She was a New York City kindergarten teacher. The photo above shows her sending my brother off to school for the first time, with me standing next to him. My mother died of COVID-19 during the lockdown of 2020. This book is dedicated to her and all the loved ones lost during that time, as well as to the teachers, nurses, and others who dedicated themselves to serving their family and community.