Books by Kids releases Jacksonville A-to-Z

Book Benefits Charity, Creatively Engages Hospitalized Children

Sep 11, 2009

What began as a rainy day activity became a book publishing company that teaches kids about their communities and benefits a range of worthy causes.

Heather and Frank Surface are two busy entrepreneurs and devoted parents whose careers and volunteer efforts lend much to civic progress and pride in their hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. And they love to travel, often taking weekend jaunts with young sons Jamie (11) and Peyton (8).

But every parent of knows that long car trips can become quite a bore. So, to pass the time on one particularly wearisome car ride, the Surfaces created an impromptu game, challenging the boys to name important landmarks, historical figures or other characteristics of their home city starting with each letter of the alphabet.

"After months of playing the game, we created a huge master list of Jacksonville trivia," says Heather, who owns a public relations company. "Several months later, on a wet rainy day in Jacksonville, my boys were complaining that there was 'nothing to do,' so we decided to take our master list and write a story based on our research."

The idea was to give the written story to the children's grandmother as a fun gift. But as a successful PR professional, Surface soon found a way to turn a boredome-busting game into a fun, educational and civic-minded new business.

Jamie and Peyton went to work writing and rhyming their local discoveries. Their words became a book titled Jacksonville from A-to-Z. But a great kids' book needs great pictures. Rather than hire an artist, Heather turned to local organization that specializes in the healing power of art.

"We decided to turn our family game into a philanthropic endeavor," Surface says.

Art with a Heart in Healthcare is a nonprofit organization with a mission of "healing children's bodies and spirits through art." Founded in 2001, the organization brings volunteer artists into Jacksonville's Wolfson Chidlren's Hospital and Nemours Children's Clinic's Pediatric Oncology/Hematology unit. With materials provided via individual and corporate donations, these artists give young patients hands-on lessons in art forms including painting, print making, journaling, fiction writing, mosaic glass and kaleidoscope making.

To date, Art with a Heart has served more than 10,000 children. Among them – the illustrators of Jacksonville from A-to-Z. And the book has raised thousands of dollars for the organization.

Books by Kids Expands Nationwide

The whole experience proved so rewarding that the Surface family became convinced other kids in cities across the nation would want to get in on the action. To that end, Heather Surface founded Books by Kids. The company takes interested young authors and their families and communities through the process, which includes securing sponsors and a lead volunteer organization to help with fundraising, partnering with a local children's hospital to provide artwork, production budgeting and marketing.

Once all materials and participants are in place, Books by Kids handles the design and printing of the book and book jacket, copyrighting, marketing, distribution plan and other production and business aspects. To date, books are planned in more than 30 cities nationwide.

"All books in the A to Z Series are created by kids and benefit children," Surface says. "As more A to Z books are written, illustrated and produced across the country, countless children will be positively impacted and inspired."

The copyright of the article Books by Kids releases Jacksonville A-to-Z in Writing for Children is owned by Devan Stuart. Permission to republish Books by Kids releases Jacksonville A-to-Z in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.