Meet Piper Joy.
Piper Joy
and the
Grand Old Tree
Written by
Kim Scharf
Illustrated by
Moran Reudor
“Little Piper Joy counts the leaves each day. She's grateful for this grand old tree that makes her feel okay.”
Beneath the branches of the majestic tree growing in her backyard, Piper Joy finds peace, pleasure...and pure magic. From airplanes piercing through the clouds above to leaves dancing gracefully to the ground, she relishes the simple wonders which surround us all — when we take the time to appreciate them. All children have something that brings them comfort and bliss. This rhyming picture book teaches them that sharing these things with others is not only validating and calming...it’s a whole lot of fun.
Eric Hoffer International Book Award Grand Prize Shortlist Honoree and First Horizon Finalist. Less than 140 books chosen out of 2500 entrants across 24 categories.
About Kim
The Author
It’s been said: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
Kim Scharf’s late granddaughter, Evan Frances, was the teacher. Evan was a unique soul who taught everyone in her orbit the meaning of life without ever uttering a word. This book is what Kim imagined Evan was thinking as they sat together in her backyard watching the sky and all that appeared around them.
Due to a rare mitochondrial disorder, Evan was born deaf, but received cochlear implants at nine months of age. Her health was further compromised but this spirited child managed to make an impression on everyone she encountered.
Kim was a practicing Speech and Language Pathologist for the preschool population for thirty years and a yoga teacher for seven. She is the mother of three adult children, and four grandchildren. She resides with her husband and two dogs in South Florida.
About Moran
The Illustrator
Growing up, Moran Reudor excelled in drawing and painting, which steadily evolved into her passion as a professional illustrator. Moran is best known for blending digital and watercolor techniques, and today, more than four dozen of her children’s books are nationally available.
Moran resides in Costa Rica with her husband and four children and enjoys traveling abroad and inspiring her children to learn about art. She believes that oftentimes, the most memorable and impactful stories are brought to life within the pages of children’s books.
Meet Evan Frances.
Several articles have been written about Evan in the L.A. Times, Variety magazine and Today.com.
Read about the girl who inspired Piper Joy here:
Inside Our Child’s Battle with Mitochondrial Disease (Variety)
by Lindzi Scharf
My Baby Girl is Gone. How I’m Learning to Live with Grief and Care for Her Brother (Los Angeles Times)*
by Lindzi Scharf
What My Late Daughter Taught Me About Being a Mom (Today.com)
by Lindzi Scharf
After Her Child Died, This Mom Found a Beautiful Way to Keep Her Close (Today.com)
by Elise Solé
Learn more about Evan and the book she inspired on Instagram at @PiperJoyBook.
*selected as “Notable Essay” in “Best American Essays 2023”
A portion of this book’s proceeds will go towards mitochondrial disease research non-profit organizations including United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation and CureARS.
Learn more about these organizations here: UMDF.org and CureArs.org