Author’s new children’s book tells story close to her heart
by Dan Holland
For local children’s author Christina Scalese, writing her first illustrated children’s book involved taking a trip down memory lane.
Scalese held an Aug. 23 book launch party at the Independence Gazebo for the release of Elroo and Me, a book that includes memories of Scalese’s oldest son’s “lovey” or stuffed animal, and the countless times the prized possession was lost and found.
More than 50 residents showed up for the event, which included a friendship bracelet station, a kids’ yoga event, photo booth, copies of the new book and refreshments.
“This story was born out of my family’s experiences with my oldest son’s lovey, who is named Elroo,” Scalese explained. “When someone threw him away once in a dumpster, our entire family was on a search and rescue mission looking for it. Someone had thrown him away in a giant dumpster, and my husband had to crawl in to retrieve him. My mom later told me that I needed to write a book about Elroo.”
The book includes hand-drawn illustrations by Akron-based illustrator Mahala Bloom.
“It was important for me to use hand-drawn illustrations that are not AI-generated in any way,” said Scalese. “So, I was able to hook up with another author who gave me the name of an illustrator in Akron who was great to work with. The illustrations are inspired by my family, and she really nailed the artwork.”
The book recounts various instances of Elroo being lost at various locations around Northeast Ohio, which included him being run over and later recovered in a supermarket parking lot.
“It talks about instances when Elroo was lost, and how my son used it for comfort in different stages of his life. When he went to preschool for the first time, he had to leave him at home,” said Scalese. “He brought him on vacations, and when he was upset, he would cling to him. So, it was a source of comfort for him.”
She received Elroo as a baby shower gift from her aunt. It is basically a square washrag with an elephant head sewn on in the middle, explained Scalese. “We gave it to my son as a newborn, and he was really attached to him by age two. He took him everywhere with him, which is why he got lost so many times.”
The family later found a “clone” of Elroo on eBay in case the item was ever permanently lost.
Reminiscing on events surrounding Elroo being lost and found took Scalese back a number of years, as her oldest son is now 11.
“It was so easy to write, because it was straight from my heart and straight from my memories of those times,” said Scalese. “It was very bittersweet to write as well, because obviously, the whole point of the book is that it’s for every child who has ever lost a lovey or stuffy that is irreplaceable. It’s also for the parents, who know that these things are part of the family. So, as a parent, it was very nostalgic and a tear jerker to write, for sure.”
Scalese, who owns a local wellness company and is a registered dietitian and yoga instructor, lives in Independence with husband Eric and children Luca, Leo and Nicolina. She is currently writing a women’s fiction novel for her second effort.
The book, Elroo and Me, which is self-published, is available at area bookstores and online at christinasbookcorner.com.
Photo caption: Christina Scalese held a launch party for her children’s book about a stuffed animal named Elroo, which she is holding. Photo by Dan Holland.