Dude, where’s my frog?

Twelve years ago, 18-year-old K.C. Marks II died in a car accident after falling asleep at the wheel on a stretch of interstate near Amite. It was Christmas Eve and since that time Christmas has been difficult for the Marks family.

This past Christmas, however, Marks’ sister Kristy Robillard brought a little joy back to her family when she surprised them with a gift honoring her late brother.

In July 2007, Robillard and her mother, Gayle Marks, were scouring boxes of old photographs and memories to put together a slideshow for father Ken Marks’ 60th surprise birthday party. They stumbled upon an old purple school folder that contained a story 9-year-old K.C. had written in the fourth grade as a student at Shenandoah Elementary.

The story was a playful tale about a frog named Dude who had a zit on his nose, causing all of the other frogs to laugh at him.

“We read the story and of course laughed and cried,” Robillard recalls. “But, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and wanted to do something more with it.”

Robillard had met Hannah Lane Romero, a local artist and children’s book illustrator, and decided to contact her to see what she thought of the story.

“Right off the bat I thought the story was really funny and clever,” Romero says. “And of course kids are going to like it because it was written by a kid.”

Romero asked Robillard to send her a photo of her brother and a list of adjectives describing him. From that she created 12 painted canvases to illustrate the story.

On Christmas morning Robillard presented the paintings to her family, but because she had crafted the gift in secret they had no idea what they had been presented with until they opened the last box containing paperback copies of K.C.’s story, A Frog Named Dude, complete with Romero’s illustrations.

“When they opened it they were just astounded,” Robillard says. “They started reading it and it hit them. It was truly the best gift ever because it was from him.”

Since that time the two have ordered hardback copies to share with family and friends. In March Dude hit bookstores across Baton Rouge. At their first book signing at the Funky Palette the pair sold almost 90 copies. The book is available at Learning Express, The Lollipop Tree and local Barnes & Noble bookstores.

Robillard and Romero are in talks to have A Frog Named Dude carried in Barnes & Noble stores nationwide. “It’s just been phenomenal,” Robillard says. “I never imagined people would embrace it like this. It’s not only reconnected our family and friends with his playful energy, but gives us a chance to share his story with others.”

To find out about upcoming book signings and readings or to purchase a copy, log onto hannahlane.com or afrognameddude.com or contact Kristy Robillard at [email protected].