Some of the best children’s stories begin in the most ordinary moments — a conversation, a small frustration, or a memory shared between generations. That’s exactly how My Favorite Pillow by Ewald DeCerney, illustrated by Daris Bleu, came to life.

The idea for the book began during a phone call between Ewald and his oldest grandson. The boy was feeling frustrated because his parents had asked him to give away several toys to charity before he could receive any new ones. Like many children, he found it hard to part with things he loved.

During the call, Ewald’s younger grandson could be heard in the background, energetically jumping around and making plenty of noise. Seeing how upset his older grandson was, Ewald tried to comfort him. He explained that giving things up can feel difficult, but sometimes it can lead to something positive.

To help illustrate the point, he began telling an impromptu story — the story that would eventually become My Favorite Pillow.

As the story unfolded, something unexpected happened. The room on the other end of the phone grew quiet. Both grandsons stopped what they were doing and listened closely from beginning to end. When the story was finished, they began asking questions and talking about it.

That moment stayed with Ewald.

If the story could capture his grandsons’ attention so completely, perhaps other children might enjoy it too. With that thought in mind, he decided to turn the story into a book.

The manuscript was written and shared with a few early readers, who responded positively. But there was still one missing piece — the right illustrator to bring the story to life visually. Without that, the project remained unfinished, sitting quietly on Ewald’s computer for nearly two years.

Everything changed when Ewald discovered the artwork of Daris Bleu through BookBildr. Daris’s illustration style perfectly matched the warmth and emotion of the story. With the right artistic partner finally found, My Favorite Pillow was able to move from idea to finished book.

Today, the story that began as a comforting conversation between a grandfather and his grandson is available for families everywhere to read and enjoy.

My Favorite Pillow tells a relatable story about a boy who must give up his beloved pillow because he is allergic to it — a situation many children can understand. Through the experience, the book explores themes of change, attachment, and discovering that letting go can sometimes lead to new and unexpected comforts.

At BookBildr, we love seeing stories like this come to life — stories that start in everyday moments and grow into books that can be shared with children around the world.