Wave Magazine Online Jacksonville University News Hub
By Kevin Hogencamp/Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University graduate Tiffany Pinciotti-Oliva and her mother-in-law have self-published a children’s book illustrated by current JU student Stephanie Escalona Morales.
The book, “Wishy Life Buddies: An Easter Tradition,” is a children’s story combined with a toy bunny, “Buddy,” that comes to life and plays hide-and-seek with children during the Easter season. It features a “buddy” and seven empty eggs that are hidden and filled each day for a week leading up to Easter Sunday.
“Once the children invite their own ‘buddy,’ and name him themselves, into their home, they sprinkle him with Wishy Dust and now he can see and hear children,” said Oliva, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident and 2002 communications graduate who played tennis at JU. “Then, each night, the children get to leave out an empty egg. And if they are good, their “Buddy” will fill their egg with a special treat and hide it the next morning.”
Then, once the Easter Bunny comes on Easter Sunday, their ‘Buddy’ leaves with the Bunny before returning the next year.
The book addresses the value of good behavior and sharing.
“It is really a fun tradition to start with young families during the Easter season,” Oliva said. “This idea and concept for this book developed very organically. As a young mother, I’m always looking for ways to develop traditions during the holidays that will reinforce values and create a sense of togetherness for our family, and our Easter ‘Buddy’ did just that. Our ‘Buddy’ brought my family so much joy that we wanted to invite ‘Buddy’ into other families homes to experience and enjoy the effect that its presence has on children of all ages.”
Oliva is married to JU alumnus Chad Oliva, a former Dolphins baseball star who is a JU Athletics Hall of Fame member. She said she and her mother-in-law, Deborah Oliva, hope to create additional story concepts that help families create their own traditions and togetherness.
“Wishy Life Buddies” is the second book illustrated by Morales, a sophomore from Jacksonville.
Information about ordering “Wishy Life Buddies” is available on the book’s website and Facebook page.
Tiffany Oliva recently visited Wilma’s Little People’s School and read her book to the Three and Four year olds. Everyone enjoyed the book and her visit!