BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) — From a young age, Ellissa Schwartz knew she wanted to write children’s books.
“When I was in grade school and I won the young author award, that was my goal, that was my dream,” she said.
Her dream was put on hold while she studied biological science and chemistry to become a physician’s assistant at OSF Healthcare, a career she focused on for more than a decade.
“I loved medicine. It’s like helping people. You’re solving problems as well and so it has both aspects of it. But I’m also very artistic and I like that side,” Schwartz said.
Inspired by her three boys, Schwartz wrote the award-winning children’s book, “This Day I Hold Dear.”
“As I went along, I read it to them. They loved the rhyming and going through the seasons. It’s a journey and they have great, great feedback too,” she said.
The self-published book, which contains illustrations by Rockford illustrator Sophia Riley, demonstrates the unconditional love parents have for their children, with a reminder that kids don’t stay young for long.