Parents love products that can be customized to fit their families, as it adds an extra touch of something special! Barb Lawson-Miller is one of those parents.
Barb made a homemade book filled with drawings and photos for her daughter that quickly became her favorite bedtime story. Not long after, Barb’s book caught the eye of her friends and family, who encouraged her to get her creation published.
Barb started her own publishing company, Barbamel Books, to make that dream a reality. Her homemade book became the inspiration for I Love Daddy Because… which also lead to mom, grandpa, and grandma versions as well!
The books share the same encouraging message of love and creativity as Barb’s original creation. Families put their own photos in the book to make it even more of a cherished book.
Please welcome Barb to the Spotlight!
MCA: Welcome to the spotlight Barb! Can you please tell us about your I Love children’s books?
Barb: I wrote my first book I Love Daddy Because… for my daughter. My husband traveled a lot for work when she was a baby and I wanted her to know how much he loved her even when he couldn’t be there in person.
I filled the book with drawings and photos that read, for example, “I love Daddy because… he makes me smile.” The book became her favorite bedtime story. She loved seeing photos of herself and her Daddy. My daughter would smile and smile when she heard the wonderful words that end each book, “I really love Daddy because…he loves me.” 
Daddy and Mommy were my first books and when it was time to reprint, I published I Love Grandma Because… and Grandpa too. The grandparent books have been a huge success as children are often far from grandparents and the books give them a way to feel a little closer.
MCA: Now that you have an award-winning book, what do you want to accomplish over the coming year?
Barb: I want to see my books in stores across Canada and the United States. I also want to publish I Love My Brother Because… and I Love My Sister Because… They will be the sixth and seventh books in the series. They are also two of the most requested books.
MCA: Honorees often hope to increase sales as part of their strategy. Do you have specific ways that you think your Mom’s Choice Award® can help you attain your goals?
Barb: The press release that I was able to send out announcing the award has given the I Love Grandma Because… book a new presence even though it was first published in 2008.
Stores are calling me because they recognize the Mom’s Choice Award® gold seal on the I Love Grandma Because… book and want to carry all of my books in their stores. Lastly, the award has helped me attain my goals by giving me the confidence to publish the next two books in the series.
MCA: That’s excellent! Can you share with us what you learned about yourself as a writer and entrepreneur in creating your award-winning book?
Barb: I have learned that moms really can do anything – moms come up with some of the best business ideas! I’ve learned to believe in myself. I think if someone had told me that one day I would write, illustrate and publish children’s books for a living, I would have fallen over. And yet here I am. I really love what I do.
MCA: Since launching your book, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Barb: I loved sharing my books with military families through Toy Industry Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club of America. I have attended a few gifting suites.
The books have been popular with celebrities and sharing the books with celebrities in Hollywood has been a lot of fun! Some have even ordered on my site. At one event I met Jeri Ryan and she cried when I presented her with the books and told her the story behind them. She was so lovely – a really good mom. The popularity with celebrities may be because they can print their photos for the books at home. They don’t have to risk a precious moment with their child ending up on the front page of a magazine.
Another favorite moment: a really good friend of mine was with her extended family at Christmas and she watched as her nephew opened a present and jumped up and down with so much excitement over his gift. She couldn’t wait to see the gift and when she did, it was one of my books. She called me right away. For me, knowing that children like the books and read the books with their families to share special moments together is wonderful!
Mom’s Choice Awards® Honors
I Love Grandma Because…
by Barb Lawson-Miller
Barbamel Books
Children’s Book
Gold – Novelty
Contact, Connect, and Network with Barb
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The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.
