The Story Behind
The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple:
A Mother’s Tale Reimagined by Her Daughters
“Tell us again!”
Years ago, Susan Star Light Neumer created a story to entertain her two daughters, Lauren and Alison, during their long car rides. As she described “The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple,” she would pause dramatically to let her girls guess the next color or chime in on the refrain “Oh dear! Oh no! I don’t know what to do. . . .” It was such an engaging and memorable oral tale that it became an often-requested staple of their childhood. When Lauren and Alison eventually had their own children, they asked Susan to tell them the story over and over, too.
In honor of their family tradition of oral storytelling, authors Lauren Neumer Whitehurst and Alison Neumer Lara have reimagined their mother's timeless story, complete with richly vivid, colorful illustrations by artist Helen Haggerty, to create a read-aloud picture book that is sure to be treasured by children and parents for generations to come.
Learn more about The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple picture book for children here.
Meet the Authors
Authors and sisters:
Lauren Neumer Whitehurst and Alison Neumer Lara
Lauren Neumer Whitehurst
Lauren Neumer Whitehurst is a business professional with over thirty years of experience in strategy and consulting. She is currently Co-President of The Whitehurst Family Foundation. Professionally, Lauren spent fifteen years with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and also held positions at Turner Entertainment Group, Goldman Sachs, and Duke University. She has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in English and Economics from Amherst College. Lauren was born and raised in Chicago, has grown boy-girl twins, and resides with her husband, Jim, in Longboat Key, Florida.
Alison Neumer Lara
Alison Neumer Lara is a global public relations professional and former journalist with more than twenty-five years of experience in the field. Currently, she manages communications strategy for environmental sustainability at ADM. Prior positions include editor at The Walt Disney Company, restaurant critic for Crain’s Chicago Business, and feature writer for the Chicago Tribune. She holds an MS in Journalism from Northwestern University and a BA in American Studies from Amherst College. Alison lives in Chicago with her two daughters.
Meet the Illustrator
Art Teacher and Illustrator Helen Haggerty
Helen Haggerty is an illustrator and high school art teacher based in Massachusetts, where she lives with her wife, Meghan, and their sweet and silly dog, Phoebe. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she deepened her lifelong love of whimsy, storytelling, and design. Helen hopes her illustrations inspire a sense of wonder, joy, and imagination.
Visit our Resources page to see how artist Helen Haggerty created the illustrations for The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple and to download free printable pages for young readers.
Explore Our Website
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The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple — About the Book
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUR PICTURE BOOK FOR CHILDREN
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Reader Reviews of The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple
HERE’S WHAT FAMILIES, KIDS, AND PROFESSIONALS SAY ABOUT THE BOOK
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Free Printable Resources for Young Readers
FREE PRINTABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUNG READERS: EMOTIONS AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
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