Kai’s Journey

Kai’s Journey is a series of books created in concert with the New York Life Foundation, as part of an initiative to help families coping with loss and bereavement.

The books’ central character is Kai, a young boy who has recently lost his father.  In ‘The Golden Sweater,’ he learns that holding on to a memento belonging to his dad can help him understand what has happened, and ultimately help him come to terms with his grief. In ‘The Girl with the Locket’, he learns about the power of opening up to a friend about loss, and in ‘The Fishless Lake’ he is taught the power of traditions to help keep memories of his dad alive.

The accompanying short films were beautifully and sensitively produced by @iv.animation with voiceovers by Maya Rudolph. For every download of the e-book, the New York Life Foundation will donate $1 to nonprofits that support grieving children, including those affected by COVID-19, up to $350,000.  You can download the ebooks here and view some of the illustrations I did for the project below.