The children’s book Love Grows Everywhere, written by Barry Timms and illustrated by Tisha Lee, won Neumann University’s 2023 Bock Book Award for Children’s Literature.
The book tells the story of how love can grow and shows kids the many different ways of love as well as how powerful it can be.
Tiffany McGregor, director of library services, started the Bock Book Award ceremony in the Multipurpose Hall by introducing the author and illustrator.
“Love spreads is a really good message to remind us we can show our love in different ways. Kindness is love, caring is love. These are good messages for people of all ages,” said McGregor.
Youngsters from the Child Development Center came to the event, hung up drawings of what they love, and planted seeds.
Mary Domes read the book to the children, who were engaged and interested in the story.
Finally, Chris Domes, president of Neumann University, presented the award to Timms and Lee.
“The book reflected the world that we live … as well as the joy and color that love brings into our lives,” said Timms.
Author and illustrator each had their favorite parts of the book.
Lee’s preferred section was “When the girl is looking out of the window and she’s deciding that she’s going to go over and say hello to the lonely boy across the street and give him a plant and show that he’s welcome and she’s happy to have him in the neighborhood.”
That part of the book includes the line: “But if we’re brave, perhaps we’ll dare… to show how much we really care.”
Timms’ favorite part is the beginning where the reader sees the whole country “because I just love to be able to look at all those places like the mountains and desert and the city and the river running through it and imagining what it would be like to live in all those different places. I can look at the picture for hours.”
The book reflects this idea in the text: “Love grows everywhere… from country farm to city square. From desert village, hot and dry, to mountain home where eagles fly.”
The Bock Book Award started in the year 2000. It is named after husband and wife Frances and Wesley Bock. They lived in Philadelphia and provided supplies for religious institutions, including those associated with the Sisters of St. Francis, and made contributions to the sisters. After Francis and Wesley Bock passed away, their nephew, who is associated with the Neumann Library, decided to name the Bock Book Award in memory of his aunt and uncle.
This award recognizes the Franciscan values in children’s books. Each year the Bock Book Award committee picks out the winners, including both author and illustrator, who get $750 each for the children’s book they create.