Kate Mueller’s first children’s book is a family affair. The 13-page book centers around her oldest daughter’s birthday, and the illustrations were done by her sister-in-law. “Bella’s Birthday Surprise,” Kate said, “is about my daughter on her birthday. It’s the same day we found out we were expecting our second daughter.” Kate, a stay-at-home mom and Purdue University graduate, said she always enjoyed writing. At Bella’s first birthday party, that’s when Kate and her husband, Nate, told the rest of the family they were expecting their second child. Kate had just found out the day before. The night of Bella’s first birthday, Kate jotted down some notes. Those notes turned into “Bella’s Birthday Surprise.” She looked for an illustrator for the book, and chose her sister-in-law, Cho Long McGowen. McGowen has a photography business in Bremen called Bada Art. “She did all the illustrations,” Kate said. She got the book self-published through Author House Publishing. The rhyming book has been out since Feb. 17. Kate said her favorite books have always been rhyming books so that is why she chose to make her book rhyme. Each page also has a pink bear hidden on the page. Bella is now a student at Madison Elementary School, and her sister, Sofia, will be a student at Madison next year. Since both of her daughters will be Madison Cardinals, Kate said she donated a copy of the book to the school library. If this book works out, Kate said she has two more already written. “So far,” she said, “everyone has really liked it that I’ve talked to.” Her family and friends all wanted “autographed” copies, she said. “My daughter loves it,” Kate said of Bella’s reaction to the book. “She’s very excited about it.”She said the book is easy to read and is not just a book to be read to babies. Copies of the book are available at Tree of Life Bookstore in Winona Lake, or online at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com or AuthorsHouse.com Kate will be reading her book during story hour at several libraries. She will have copies of her book with her, too, for purchase. On April 11-12 at Warsaw Community Public Library, she will read “Bella’s Birthday Surprise” at the 10 a.m. story hour each day. On April 11, she will be at Bell Memorial Public Library, Mentone, at 3:30 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. April 10, she will have her book reading at the Bremen Public Library. In a few weeks, she said, her book will have an app on iPad and any other Apple® device. It will be an interactive app, the book can be read to kids and kids also can re-color the illustrations. The pages also will be able to be made into puzzles. The website for the book is at bellasbirthdaysurprise.badaart.com
