A lyrical and heartfelt tribute from a parent to their “everything,” their child.
From the Publisher: “Following a parent and child elephant on their annual migration to join the herd, this sweet story celebrates all of the ways in which a child is ‘everything’ to their parent, their family, and their community. The pair set off together in the early morning and experience the warm, golden sun, the cool, refreshing water, and finally the cheerful sounds of the rest of the herd when they all join up. As beautiful as early morning sunshine and as warm as a tender trunk embrace, this book is the perfect way for parents and families to say ‘I love you’ to their special little one…”
More info About the Author: Western Pennsylvania native (Erie-raised, Meadville-educated, and Pittsburgh-based) children’s book writer and poet, Kelly Conroy (she/her), is 50% silly, fun-loving, never-grow-up big kid and 50% hard-working, focused, analytical actuary. She loves all things magical, whimsical, and numerical, and her goal in life is to make people smile.
Her books include You Are My Everything (Tiger Tales, 2024), I See You in the Stars: A Zodiac Book for Babies (Familius, 2025), and other yet-to-be-announced projects.
She was initially inspired to write by her cousins, Stan and Jan Berenstain, creators of the Berenstain Bears, and continues to be inspired by her two rambunctious sons and mini goldendoodle, Chewy. Kelly is represented by Sarah Stephens at Red Fox Literary.
Follow her on Instagram (@kellyconroybooks) and visit https://www.kellyconroy.com/ for more!
Author Site About the Illustrator: Abigail Hookham is an illustrator based in Fenland, Cambridgeshire.
She obtained a Distinction for her Masters in Children’s Literature: Illustration from Goldsmiths UOL and holds a First Class Honours Degree in Game Art and Design from Norwich University of the Arts, giving her a unique perspective on children’s books.
With an interest in Augmented Reality and game theory, Abigail’s work is driven by her passion for evoking wonder. Her imagery is deeply laced with intrigue to transport the reader to different worlds. She loves to play with lighting and colour, and takes inspiration from Pixar for their impeccable visual storytelling and ability to appeal to a dual audience. Abigail creates her illustrations with a mixed media approach, using a range of media from gouache to oil pastel and often taking the scanned works into Photoshop for final enhancements.
Find her on Instagram (@a_hookham) and visit her illustrator site for more!
Illustrator Site Don’t miss out on Kelly’s Western Pennsylvania events!
- Riverstone Books (McCandless) is hosting: “Book Launch with Children’s Author Kelly Conroy” on November 4 at 7:00 pm
- Riverstone Books (McCandless) is hosting: “Kelly Conroy for a Toddler Tuesday Special” on November 5 at 9:30 am
- Werner Books (Erie) is hosting: “Story Time” on November 10 at 11:00 am
- Little Green Bookstore (Zelienople) is hosting: “Story Time” on November 16 at 11:30 am
- Riverstone Books (Squirrel Hill) is hosting: “Kelly Conroy for a Sunday Storytime Special” on December 8 at 10:30 am
Q&A with Kelly Conroy and her dear friend, Arianne Burnworth:
AB: What made you decide to become a writer?
KC: As a kid, my dream-dream-dream-dream-dream-dream-dream was to become a Disney Animator. But everyone in my art classes was so much more talented than I was, so I took the more practical route and leaned into my best subject — math — and became an actuary.
However, that creative itch never died so I started writing. One day, I popped into a bookstore to look at the children’s section to find clues about how to get published. I started to get discouraged because there were already SO MANY BOOKS. What was the probability (see I’m a math nerd) I could actually get a book out there? But then I turned around and saw a wall of Berenstain Bear books and remembered – oh yeah, they are my cousins (Stan Berenstain was my grandfather’s first cousin). Maybe writing was in my blood. For years, I didn’t think I’d ever get published, but I kept going by clinging to my “Berenstain blood” theory.
I highly recommend being related to someone in your dream field or at least pretending to be. (But I really am related.)
AB: Why do you write for children?
KC: I love the hope, optimism, and whimsy of children’s books, and I love that ANYTHING can happen.
AB: Who is your favorite author?
KC: My favorite story of all time is Peter Pan, so J. M. Barrie.
Also, Stan and Jan Berenstain (obviously), especially Spooky Old Tree.
And I love creepy, suspenseful books, so my favorite adult author is Gillian Flynn.
I also love all my author friends and critique partners.
AB: How long did it take to get your first book deal?
KC: I’m not sure when to consider my start date.
- I wrote my first complete story that I was excited about in 2009.
- I reached out to a writer I went to college with in 2011-ish.
- That writer was Kate Dopirak who took me under her wing and became one of my best friends.
- I never would have gotten published without her.
- Please check out her books. They are gorgeous.
- She is also one of my favorite authors.
- Katie told me to join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
- I attended my first SCBWI conference in November 2013 and
- started attending regular critique group meetings shortly after.
Therefore, I would say my journey really began in 2014. I sold my first book, I See You In The Stars (Familius, 2025) in 2022. So, it took about 8 years.
AB: How long did it take to write You Are My Everything?
KC: The theme of You Are My Everything is the same as the book I wrote in 2009, so the first draft took me a week, but also 14 years. My editor and I went back and forth a few times and the contract was signed about 4 months after I started working on it.
AB: Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with an idea?
KC: Yes, and sometimes my brain writes poems while I’m in that semi-awake stage when I’m trying to sleep in.
AB: What’s your favorite thing about writing?
KC: Writing in rhyme is my favorite. I get a rush like solving a tricky math problem when I get the rhythm and rhyme to work or when I find the perfect word.
I’m also looking forward to seeing kids hear my stories. Hopefully they smile.
AB: What advice do you have for aspiring writers or illustrators?
KC: Littsburgh leaders, Nick Courage and Rachel Ekstrom, really solidified the key to me when I heard them speak at a conference – become part of the community. Join SCBWI and/or Penn Writers, go to bookstores, go to libraries, join critique groups, go to book events.
Follow Littsburgh!
Also: read, read, read, read, read, read, read, and write.
Thanks, Arianne and Littsburgh!
<3 Kelly
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