Quincy family seeks community support to bring children’s book series to life

QUINCY — A local family is gearing up to release the second book in their children’s series and is seeking support from the community.

The Otten family of Quincy — Kyle, Ashley and their daughter Felicity — released their first book last year titled “The Little Polar Bear: Time for Chores.” They now have a second book, “Waiting for Christmas,” and they have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help cover the costs of enhancing its production quality.

“We’re excited to bring ‘Waiting for Christmas’ into the hands of families everywhere, and we’re hoping to make this book even better than the first,” Ashley Otten said in a press release.

“Waiting for Christmas” follows the main character, Puddles the polar bear, as she eagerly anticipates the holiday season. Through her adventures, Puddles learns the true meaning of Christmas: spending quality time with loved ones.

The story is inspired by Felicity’s ideas and brought to life through Kyle’s illustrations. The Ottens shared that creating these books became a way for their family to stay strong and connected after Ashley was diagnosed with non-smoker’s lung cancer in November 2022.

“With Felicity’s enthusiastic approval, each story is carefully crafted to capture her imagination. If Felicity doesn’t love the drawings or the story, I go back to the drawing board,” said Kyle. “We wanted to create something special that reflects the fun we have together, even when facing challenges.”

The Ottens have set a fundraising goal of $12,000 to cover the costs of printing, shipping and promotion. The deadline for the campaign is Sept. 20.

To support the Otten family and their mission to bring “Waiting for Christmas” to life, visit their fundraising page at http://kck.st/3AF1Scw.