Dreams of becoming an author come true for liittlest murder victim

JUPITER, Fla. - Books were an important part of Makayla Joy Sitton's life. The 6 year old would often read to her dolls and stuffed animals. Books gave Makyala an endless imagination.

"She could take anything and make it into a story, says her mother Muriel Sitton. "Every little thing would come alive for her."

Muriel homeschooled Makayla. The six-year-old rarely watched television. Reading was her passion.

Her mom says, "She loved books! She even loved to read about authors. Often I would tell her, 'who knows maybe you'll be an author one day. You could write your own books one day.' "

Muriel Sitton never dreamed that day would come so soon. And it did thanks to Tyler Hollis.

"I read a story about Makayla and it mentioned that she was writing a book. And boom, I heard my daughter's voice saying 'you can help mom, you can help.' "

Hollis, a children's book illustrator, didn't know Muriel but knew what she was going through. Her daughter Heather died four years ago. "As soon as she and I met it was like it was meant to be. We looked into each others eyes and to lose a child is something nobody can understand unless you have lost one."

Tyler offered to illustrate and publish The Bear's Castle, a story Makayla spontaneously told her mom one day at the kitchen table.

"Her story was captured at a time when I had no idea that it would result in a book today. Providentially, I was there with a tape recorder as she told her story and we're able to share it in a beautifully illustrated book," says Muriel.

Muriel recalls Makayla's sweet voice and the special way she told her story. Readers of, The Bear's Castle will be able to hear Makayla too.  A CD of the six-year-old telling her sweet tale and guiding readers through the colorful pages will accompany every book.

"That is, for my husband Jim and I, one of the most special things. We enjoy curling up and hearing her voice, her beautiful inflections and it makes us feel so close to her when we hear it," Muriel says.

Personal details of Makayla's life are sprinkled among the pages. One illustration in the book shows the little bear's bedroom. It mimics Makayla's room in her Jupiter home.

Illustrator Tyler Hollis says, "Doing Makayla's room was a joy. She has such an imagination and such adorable things in the room. I wanted to personalize the book for her."

Jim and Muriel Sitton say it is wonderful to hold something in their hands that came from their daughter.

They say, "We've always said there has to be something that comes out of this in ways that the light is not gonna be snuffed out by the evil of that Thanksgiving day tragedy. And it hasn't been, In fact, it's more glorious than ever. We know she is watching down upon us saying, 'yes! Yes mama and papa, this is cool!' That is a great blessing to us."

In honor of the debut of, "The Bear's Castle", a special story time and book signing event is being held Saturday, July 24th at the Jupiter Library at 2pm. There will be music by the Jupiter Academy of Music, and dance by the Florida Classical Ballet Theatre. There will be a special book signing afterwards with the book's illustrator and Jim and Muriel Sitton. A special stamp will be used bearing Makayla's very own signature. The highlight will be the playing of Makayla's telling of "The Bear's Castle".
 

Book & CD sets sell for $17.00. Proceeds from the sales go to the Makayla Joy Sitton Foundation to fund music and dance scholarships that have been set up in Makayla's honor at the Jupiter Academy of Music and The Florida Classical Ballet Theatre, giving many other children the chance to enjoy the arts in the same way Makayla did.
Book/CD sets can also be purchased online Makayla's website.