"Say Hello, Lily" Children's Book Signing by Milwaukee Author December 5, 2010

Boswell Book Company, 2559 N. Downer Avenue will be hosting a special book signing for “Say Hello, Lily” on Sunday, December 5, at 2 p.m. The delightful new picture book is helping prepare families, school children and kids’ clubs who are going to be visiting nursing homes and senior centers about how to bridge the gap between generations.

Created by Milwaukee resident and former social worker, Deborah Lakritz, Say Hello, Lily chronicles one little girl’s ongoing visits to the Shalom House where her mom does volunteer work with senior citizens.

At first Lily is overwhelmed by all the new faces that are much older than hers. However, in time Lily joins in on the group activities, makes new friends, and celebrates a birthday to remember.

The book, which is available at Boswell Book Company as well as online, retails for $7.95 for soft cover and 17.95 for hard cover. It is published by Kar-Ben Publishing.

Lakritz says she was inspired to write Say Hello, Lily after watching her then four-year old daughter struggle with how to relate to her grandmother when she moved into the Sarah Chudnow Jewish Senior Living Campus in Mequon, Wis.

Lakritz has a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from University of Iowa. She has worked with all age groups as a family life educator in family service agencies and was also an elementary school social worker where she used children's literature extensively to reach children. She has led many support/education groups for children on divorce, grief and loss and social skills. She is also the mother of five children. She grew up in Skokie, Ill.