(Due for Publication 2026)
Real Friends and Their Children
Real Friends and Their Children are little histories of the “real” stuffed friends of an arborist; a CPA; a school principal; an art gallery owner; and even loved ones who are no longer with us, to name a few, told in the voices of their extant childhood stuffed animals.
There are fewer best friends in life than those we had as children. Not all of us experienced the special bond between ourselves and our best “stuffed” friend. But for those of us who did have such a talisman, it is likely that magical creature is still within reach.
Ages 6 and up
Also available at Faustina's Gallery, Lewisburg, PA
And so, in their own enchanted place, the girl and the boy went on.
“So they went off together. But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.”
—A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner
Cover Friend: c. 1965 My name is Teddy. Growing up, my girl thought I was a bear and loved me very much, and I loved her just as much. When she was grown she was told by a friend that I was a dog. My girl was surprised, but realized it was true. How funny! I think it made her love me even more now that she knew I was a dog. My girl is an art historian and owns her own art gallery and frame shop. She is such a lovely person.
Williams, Margery. The Velveteen Rabbit: Or, How Toys Become Real. Illustrated by William Nicholson. London: Heinemann, 1922.
Mary McGarvey, Calligrapher
Touching Review: “I've been thinking of this project and its importance as I'm watching all the pictures of the little [Ukranian] refugee children holding their stuffed animals and realizing how important they are that they took them with them as they had to leave their homes. Sometimes that was all they chose to take! I love that you honored that.”
-Jody H. Lewisburg, PA
Excerpts
My name is Bad Brown.
I am not sure whether my boy named me that, or if the boy’s father told him that was my name.
My boy always kept me close to him.
He once made me a beautiful brown corduroy shirt, which I am not wearing in this portrait.
My boy became a master arborist because he loves trees.
We bears love trees, too.
I am so proud of the kind man he is.
My name is Boo Boo.
As you can see from my portrait, my boy loved me a LOT!
I had a very close call once after he became a man and left home.
His mom gathered me up with other things that the boy no longer needed – to be thrown away!
Luckily, my boy came home and discovered me.
He sewed my eyes tight and mended my tummy.
My boy is a CPA.
That means Certified Public Accountant.
My name is Dandelion because I was once bright yellow.
My girl took me to school every day until her teacher told her she had to leave me home.
She said I was bringing germs to school, but I think she was concerned that I was too attached to my girl.
My girl grew up to be a school principal.
Every year, her school had a “Stuffed Friend Day” when children were encouraged to bring their stuffed friends to school.
She always brought me!
© 2026 Mary D’Amore, All Rights Reserved