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Children's book a 'validation' of
special birthday
By Abby Scalf |
Daily Herald Staff
Published: 2/29/2008 12:06 AM
Leopold and
his parents waited for his first birthday,
Feb. 29, but it never seemed to come.
Finally, as
his parents bring Leopold to his first
check-up four years later, the wise doctor
figures out why the seasons continue to pass
without any recognition of his special day.
Leopold has a
Leap Year birthday.
Libertyville
author Dawn Desjardins tells the story of a
young frog who comes to understand his
unique birthday in her second book,
"Leopold's Long Awaited Leap Year Birthday."
During a
school visit to promote her first book, an
assistant principal suggested to her the
need for a picture book about Leap Year.
Desjardins said Leap Year became a great
interest.
"Imagine
having a birthday that is not on the
official calendar three out of four years,"
she said. "Imagine being 4, but really only
1."
Desjardins
said while fun, she also wanted the 32-page
book to be educational. She recalled as a
child reading a story that a year is 365 ¼
days long and asked what is a quarter of a
day.
"I wondered
how would I best describe this to a child,"
she said. "I realized that would be for a
child to live it with Leopold."
Since the
release of the book on Feb. 1, Desjardins
said many people have shared stories with
her.
"People
usually delight to share they have a family
member or friend born on that day," she
said. "There is a famous quality to people
who have their birthday, and people want to
tell you about knowing them."
A retired
teacher who volunteers in a school library
shared the story of twin girls at her
school. One was born Feb. 28 and the other
Feb. 29.
"Recently, I
heard that my beloved grandmother had just
missed being a leap year baby by minutes
exactly 100 years ago this Feb. 28," she
said.
While
Desjardins said she wrote the book for
children, it is surprising how many adults
enjoy it, too.
"I have
signed so many copies for someone who is
celebrating a fifth birthday but is turning
20," she said.
Desjardins
said people have come to embrace the book.
There is the delight and uniqueness of the
day.
But she adds
celebrating a birthday on Feb. 29 but not
having their birthday on the calendar each
year also can be troubling, particularly for
a child. The book for some parents has
become a form of explanation and validation.
"I get a
sense of gratitude for being validated," she
said. "That's been a big surprise with this
book."
Desjardins
will read from her books and meet families
Friday at "An Evening with Lake County
Authors" from 5:30 to 8 p.m. today.
The program
will take place at the Lake County Discovery
Museum on Route 176 west of Fairfield Road
in Wauconda.
About the book
Title:
Leopold's Long Awaited Leap Year Birthday
Cost:
$22.95
Publisher: Artistic Ventures Publishing
Where
to buy: www.artistic-ventures.com or retail
stores
Some Leap Year Day facts
•
There are about 200,000 Leap Year Day babies
in the U.S.
•
Worldwide, there are about 4 million
•
Sadie Hawkins Day and Leap Year Day are not
the same
•
Famous Leap Year Day babies include Jimmy
Dorsey (saxophonist) in 1904, Dee Alexander
Brown II (author of "Bury My Heart at
Wounded Knee) in 1904, Dinah Shore (talk
show host) in 1916, Dennis Farina (actor) in
1944 and Ja Rule (rapper) in 1976.
Source:
www.leapyearday.com |
