Passionate about creating fun experiences for family and friends, Lemont resident Meg Dagnino curated a Halloween party for her son Ray’s kindergarten class that was brimming with games, crafts and other activities, including her “Witch’s Brew” snack-tivity.
That was nearly 10 years ago and those kindergartners are now high school sophomores. Meanwhile, Dagnino, who was an oncology nurse and school nurse, is now a published author as she turned her Halloween party Witches Brew snack activity into the a children’s book.
The book, which was published last August, was named a finalist in the Children’s Novelty and Gift Book category in the 13th annual 2022 International Book Awards competition.
“I was shocked to hear the news,” Dagnino said. “It took a while to sink in. How does this registered nurse prove that her book is great without much background support? It was an incredible honor to be a finalist and I hope it launches ‘Witch’s Brew’ to the next level and I think it already has.”
Geared for children between the ages of 2-10, the book invites readers to count their favorite snacks while creating spooky, easy to make treats through the adventures of the friendly witch, Eldora, and her goldendoodle pup, Mae.
Along the way, they turn raisins, candy coated chocolates, popcorn, pretzels and marshmallows into bat brains, ghost eyes, spider webs, skeleton bones and trolls’ teeth.
“The kids really get to use their imagination and have a lot of fun with it,” Dagnino said. “I like eating spider webs. It’s kind of cute because my dog Mae likes spider webs, too, so we eat spider webs together.”
While Dagnino possessed the creativity and imagination to plan parties and had the support of a father who convinced her that her snack “brews” could be the recipe for a children’s book, she knew nothing about publishing.
What could’ve been a daunting process, though, seemed to come together for a perfect brew, especially after connecting with illustrator Daniella Turano on social media.
“I love her work and that was something where I kind of feel like the universe brings you things,” Dagnino said. “I think the hardest part was the process of, what do I do now? Do I self publish in a big world of publications? In the creative development I knew exactly what I wanted, but the creative aftermath of getting it out there were all incredible experiences, but they were new to me.”
While the Halloween season is one of Dagnino’s favorite times of the year, she’s all for keeping the party going all year round, whether through Witch’s Brew or some potential new adventures for Eldora and Mae.
“I’ve always been a big Halloween person and as I’ve raised my kids it’s probably been the no. 2 holiday besides Christmas,” she said. “I feel like most families eat this up. It’s something different and it’s fun. My dream is to make Witch’s Brew just the first of many books in the holiday market. You can make a brew for anything, for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day. I feel like the sky is the limit with what can be done here.”
Anything is possible is a message that resonates from this friendly witch who as a parent of two recognizes the benefits of instilling a love for reading at an early age.
“Reading is quality time whether in the classroom or at home,” she said. “That one-on-one time at home can really give kids comfort. With this book, it can be a nighttime book and it can bring the family together to go shopping for ingredients or pulling stuff from the cabinet. It allows the kids and their parents to work together to create that special memory and to do it year after year.”
Dagnino remembers fondly time spent reading with her son when he was young.
“We would read and we would crack up,” she said. “As a young adult he still reads and that’s something that hopefully sticks with him. It’s hugely important for me. It’s the time spent together.”
While Witch’s Brew didn’t receive the top prize in the 2022 International Book Awards, being a finalist was a huge and unexpected accomplishment. What originated from the imagination of a nurse turned witch/author has also spent considerable time on Amazon’s bestseller list in a few categories, including Children Interactive Adventure Books, Children Custom and Traditions and Cooking with Kids.
Her creation also has afforded her with the opportunity to give back in another way for her own blessings. A portion of the proceeds from Witch’s Brew go to All God’s Children International which helped her and her husband adopt their children Ray and Emme to complete the one-of-a-kind Dagnino family brew.
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C.R. Walker is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.