Were there ever kids books??

Hey there! You can call me Eve.

A lot of picture books always seem different when you open them up again. Dont get me going on the Berrenstein Bears theories haha.

I remember that when I was a kid I had a friend who had one of these books. I’m sorry, I can’t remember the title of it. Just the message. And I’m not gunna say who the book belonged to, because honestly? I don’t remember their name. Our friendship didn’t last very long when their parents started going through a divorce. But let’s call them Lily.

Lily and I went to the same private school, but had very different backgrounds. I was really jealous of her and didn’t know at the time I had a massive crush. we were both girls and I didn’t know back then that that was even a thing that could happen. Sorry. It is kind of a relevant detail, I promise.

Basically, because of how special she was to me, I wanted something of hers that was special to her. I know that’s weird and totally messed up, but I want to tell the whole story. Even if it means revealing I was the bad guy here.

So I was going to snag a ‘trophy’. And she really seemed to like her Gabby picture book. I think she colored in every page? I don’t remember if she wrote in it (I never saw any art that wasn’t made for the book so maybe she just traced stuff?) but it seemed like she was constantly doodling inside it.

I want to be clear that stealing is wrong and I don’t condone it. Especially not from people you love. But this was my one experience and maybe if reading these other stories has comforted me… this might be a comfort to any readers? Reading Gabby made me want to be a better friend and a better person. She was wonderful and very sweet.

So… I had convinced myself that Lily wouldn’t really miss a book from her massive library, since her family was a lot more well off than mine and could probably just replace it. that way I could see why she liked it so much.

I was honestly surprised by the wholesomeness of the contents. I mean it’d have been absolutely bonkers ironic if there was some big lesson on how stealing is bad or something right?? But it was a really heartwarming tale about Gabby and her friend both being sad about something scary together. Francis - the badger character? - had been having trouble.  When he went home to his burrow, he had to fight a big scary monster every night that made him do all the chores and yelled at him until he didn’t have any hope yet. and he didn’t want to tell Gabby about any of it because he was ashamed. But Gabby said that facing the sad things in their lives together made them stronger. That real love was about giving each other everything you can to help lift them up. Honestly, it was the first sermon I’d read in a really long time that spoke of love the way I felt it for everyone around me and fit the way I interpreted it from the bible. As the poor kid in a private school community, it was exactly the message I needed to feel like I was one of gods children too. It was really comforting. I remember watching Gabby kiss a bruise on Francis’ arm. So I did the same thing to a bruise on mine and uh- let’s just say it was probably the most touching stories I’ve had happen with a picture book in a while.

I wish things had gone differently with Lily. I wish my mom hadn’t caught me with the book. Like- I’m glad it went back to Lily. I don’t blame my mom for being angry with me for stealing.  I know I did a bad thing. Still. I just- I was going to try and sneak it back to her or try and give Lily the book back and apologize. Ask if she had any monsters she needed help with, so we could band together and be strong. But it kinda turned into this whole ordeal and Lily was obviously really betrayed and probably embarrassed. The adults turned it into a whole parade and it was so embarrassing. It really sucked.

Lily - if you find this note, I’m sorry. Honest. I had a real dumb kid crush on you and I couldn’t just tell you I wanted to be your best friend. You deserved better.

I just really wanted to share the story. Now that I’ve found the forum I’ve been thinking about how much I actually really loved that book. Your stories remind e me or my own experience. Maybe you’ll remember something too? Does anyone have any copies? There’s stories of the books, but i haven’t seen any proper pictures or anything. Does anyone have any of the old copies? It’d be really cool just to see one again, y’know? Something about the way Gabby was ready to take down the monster for her friend was so cool and inspiring and I miss that feeling. Feeling like I had an angel ready to protect me, even though I’d done something bad was just- it was magical. Anyways. This got way too long.

TLDR; tell more gabby book stories! Show the art you remember from your childhoods! I miss these books!