ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Kimberly Lipsky Weidman was 8 years old and a student at Muhlenberg Elementary School when she wrote her now-published book, “Love is...”
Weidman returned to the school Monday, 44 years later, to read it to pupils in kindergarten through fifth grade.
- Kimberly Lipsky Weidman wrote her book as an 8-year-old at Muhlenberg Elementary School
- She published it last year and came back to read to students
- She dedicated it to her parents
The boys and girls gathered in the school’s gym to hear a reading of the book and to help write short stories of their own.
Weidman said her book was born out of a writing prompt for a school-wide essay contest on what love meant to them. She said she won first place for the story among her age group.
The author said she always thought it would make a good children’s book and was inspired to turn it into one after her father died of COVID-19 two years ago.
“You always say you want to do something and never get to do it,” she said. “And I thought life is too short.”
She formed her own company, KLJ Happiness, and self-published the book last year. KLJ stands for kindness, love and joy, she said.
“I just want to put goodness back into the world,” she said.
“Love is…” is about the main character searching for the meaning of love in the world around him.
“You always say you want to do something and never get to do it. And I thought life is too short.”Author Kimberly Lipsky Weidman
During the event, Weidman asked the children what they thought love was. First grader Samantha, 7, said sharing and time with her family.
“Family and kindness,” said Lincoln, a 7-year-old who is also in first grade.
Weidman said she has sold copies of her book worldwide through Amazon.
She credits her parents, including her mother Judy Lipsky who was at the elementary school event Monday, with being role models for how to be kind and compassionate to others. She said her mom also gave her a love of reading and language.
“She always read to me and my brother,” Weidman said. “That’s probably why I became a writer, just hearing all of those stories when I was little.”
