'In print forever': 9-year-old boy who died unexpectedly becomes hero of his own book
"Don't be mean." "You rock." "Shine."
Those are 9-year-old JJ Day's words to others that he wrote out in chalk before he died unexpectedly in January.
It's only fitting the cover of a new children's book, "Love like JJ" was inspired by a photo of JJ taken on the day he wrote those positive messages in a driveway.
"You can have him in print forever and for anyone who would want a copy. It just leaves me speechless," JJ's mother Kristen Day said.
Since JJ's death, the Day family has honored the Mason third-grader through random acts of kindness, hosting fundraisers and creating a foundation in JJ's name.
"You can either succumb or you can do," Day said. "We just felt like the right thing to say is, 'Alright, JJ can't do. Let's do for him' ... We really just want to help people. That's kind of what we instilled in our family and in JJ."
Now, they'll be helping even more families with proceeds from the book.
Sarah Curry Rathel is the author and founder of a nonprofit group called Smile Books Project.
She said her goal is to share who JJ was. He was a kid with an explosive personality who loved to entertain and make others laugh.
"Instantly, walking in the room I could feel his presence in his pictures. You can see his personality. His smile. His poses. Everything about him, I could feel it," Curry Rathel said.
Even if she can't fill the void in the Days' hearts, Curry Rathel said she can help them honor JJ.
"I know the thing I can do is help give them a way to celebrate the life of their child and make sure people say his name again," Curry Rathel said.
And, she made him the hero of his own book.
"We're still in excruciating pain, but this is the best way that we can love him right now," Day said.
Day said she hopes the book inspires others to do the right thing.
More information and details on how to order a copy can be found here.