About the Author and Her Son
As a retired music teacher with 35 years of experience in elementary music choir and piano instruction, I have a deep appreciation for my mother. She left behind several stacks of typewritten pages, affectionately referred to as her “book.” My responsibility was to compile and edit her life’s collected musings, which encompassed poignant children’s stories that reflected her perspectives on empathy education and the detrimental effects of racial segregation. During this process, I uncovered a wealth of intimate and vivid life experiences, such as the one shared here. Some of these memories were passed down to us as children; others would have been lost entirely had she not dedicated the time to document them. Robert Clark
Roots in Learning
Katherine (Kate) Clark, a Kentucky native, found herself re-rooted in the flatlands of Florida during the land boom of the 1920s. Raised by educators and coming from a lineage of teachers, she grew up alongside two sharp-minded older brothers in a household where learning was not just a value but a way of life. This emphasis on education fostered her understanding of empathy education, which would later influence her story telling.
A Life of Teaching
For over forty years she shared her music and values with her children and many others. Teaching came naturally to her, and music was her medium.
Where It All Began
This true children's story from 1928 may mark the beginning of that path. It speaks, with quiet clarity, to the truth that education does not begin in schools. It begins at home, in the rhythms of daily life, in the way we are spoken to, listened to, and guided. In this small, remembered moment, we glimpse the early seeds of empathy education and the impact of racial segregation from which a lifelong educator grew.
The Illustrator
SKIP CISTO, a long-time friend of Robert’s, provided the beautiful pen-and-ink drawings that capture the nostalgic, timeless feel of this children’s story. Skip was once a student in Robert’s elementary music classroom, a connection that makes this collaboration especially meaningful and full-circle. Today, Skip is a highly respected and very popular local tattoo artist, known for his expressive line work, sensitivity to story, and distinctive artistic voice.
For this book, Robert specifically asked Skip to avoid revealing the story’s climax in the illustrations—a request he honored with great care and artistry. The result is a series of eloquent, restrained images that invite curiosity while preserving the emotional unfolding of the narrative. His illustrations subtly promote empathy education and reflection, gently engaging themes such as memory, human connection, and the lingering echoes of racial segregation, all without ever overpowering the story itself.