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‘One’ helps children understand their feelings, emotions

Keystone Heights authors write book to empower children’s lives

By Wesley LeBlanc Staff Writer
Posted 12/11/19

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A friendship between two women that goes back as far as the 1960s is at the heart of a new book meant to teach children how each day is in their hands.

Donna Henderson, 66, …

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‘One’ helps children understand their feelings, emotions

Keystone Heights authors write book to empower children’s lives


Posted

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A friendship between two women that goes back as far as the 1960s is at the heart of a new book meant to teach children how each day is in their hands.

Donna Henderson, 66, and Yvonne Passwater, 91, met in the late 1960s as family friends and have remained in touch more than 50 years later. Passwater has painted all her life while Henderson found herself in the practice of acupuncture. The book idea is what had their paths crossing again, and that idea now is a book available for purchase. It’s meant to teach children about their feelings and how they ultimately own their day.

“I needed illustrations and I knew she was the one,” Henderson said. “She took what I asked for an put it on the page, and she’s so good at that.”

Passwater is excellent with watercolor and other mediums which made her the perfect choice for Henderson’s latest book. Henderson said Passwater’s art in the book, which is titled “One,” adds the perfect mix of vintage and warmth to a story meant to help children understand their feelings.

Henderson said the book comes to readers from a place of love, the stars and moon created in love, the earth created in love and most importantly, you, created in love.

“That’s what all of this is about: love,” Henderson said.

Henderson said when someone is loved, they feel happy but when the same person is sad or angry, they easily forget about that love. This book is a reminder of that love for those darker times in our life, she said.

“One” is about a person who sees the world in different perspectives based on how they’re feeling. This person is sad and sees the world as dark and dull. Passwater illustrated this character with glasses to indicate why they might be seeing the world darker and more-dull.

“The world is still the same as it always was,” Henderson said. “The glasses are the depression and when depressed, they don’t see the same colors. It’s about his perspective as a result.”

In another section of the book, the same character gets angry and he’s angry, the world is afraid. Passwater illustrated the glasses as broken to indicate them seeing the world through a different perspective. When this character is happy later in the book, the world is happy too, smiling, and the earth kisses the main character’s feet.

“The way she did these illustrations was perfect,” Henderson said.

Passwater was harder on herself with these illustrations, citing certain pieces of art that she believes she could have done better, but all that Henderson sees is perfect illustrations to accompany her words.

“I was a better artist when I was younger,” Passwater said. “I’m 91 now. I wasn’t proud of some of my illustrations but she wanted them that way and she said she loved them.”

Passwater said: “One” is meant to help little children who feel misplaced or void of a home life feel like they belong. She hopes her illustrations help illustrate that point. Henderson said Passwater’s art did just that.

“She’s amazing,” Henderson said. “She’s really an art genius.”

The book is available for purchase on Henderson’s website, donnahenderson.net, or in Healthy Living for You located in Keystone Heights. It’s also available at Otter & Trout Trading Company in Gainesville and the Melrose art gallery.