FIRST ADVENTURE IDEA
A visit to the library
Choose a book. Find a cozy spot. Ask someone for help. Your comfort friend can come along.
LILY & GABE · COMING SOON
A little comfort.
A whole world
to explore.
Meet Gabe: a soft, spotted friend reminding us that comfort and courage can come along for the ride.
A book. A companion. A community.
We’re looking for partners, sponsors, and supporters to help bring this project to life.
belongs
everywhere.
Safe spaces in unexpected places.✦You matter. You belong.✦One brave next step.
A familiar friend.A brand-new day.
THE FIRST BOOK · FOR ELEMENTARY-AGE CHILDREN
That Day
I Found You
Lily’s backpack is ready for the first day of school. Lily doesn’t feel ready at all.
Living with anxiety and OCD, she knows how loud worried thoughts can feel. Then she discovers Gabe, a stuffed friend who comes to life for her—and a little comfort she can carry into unfamiliar places.
This gentle story opens conversations about feelings, asking for help, and taking the next step with support.
Made by Christina & GabbyInspired by FreedomComing soon · Partners welcome
Download the book brochure ↓Audio, Spanish, Braille, and tactile editions are future goals. The first edition will be a basic printed book.
YOUR COMFORT CAN LOOK DIFFERENT
It doesn’t have to be Gabe.
It just has to mean something to you.
A well-loved stuffie. A soft blanket. A familiar toy. Something small that reminds you of home.
We hope to replace teasing and shame with kindness and understanding. Comfort is something we can talk about, at any age.
You can feel nervous and still take a brave next step.
FOLLOW ALONG · BRING YOUR OWN COMFORT FRIEND
Gabe’s next
little adventure.
Big adventures can begin with ordinary things. These are ideas for our first series—not scheduled events.
One brave question
Practice asking a trusted grown-up for help with something new.
A neighborhood wander
Spot a flower, a friendly doorway, or a place you like to pause.
Our starting rhythmOne monthly adventure, shared in small weekly moments.A proposal for launch; schedule to be confirmed.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PAGES
From our home
to your next chapter.
Christina and Gabby both know the comfort of a familiar stuffed animal. Squishies, stuffies, and meaningful little finds have become part of their adventures and the safe spaces they create at home.
Their experiences of childhood trauma, the love they share, and a wish to break mental health stigma helped bring this story to life.
For Christina, a bear named Freedom offered comfort through difficult moments. Lily represents Christina. Gabe is the male version of Gabby’s name.
Gabby made Gabe on her birthday two years before this project began. His birthday is January 10. Gabby is writing her part of that story in her own words.
Gabe can meet different people in future books. Lily begins his story; there is room for many more voices.
A PROJECT OF THAT DAY COMMUNITY CORNER
Safe spaces.
Unexpected places.
TDCC is a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We connect people through mental health education, community, and welcoming spaces.
More books in children’s hands.
Proceeds from book sales support books for children, mental health education, and safe spaces.
Less stigma. More belonging.
We want asking for help and finding comfort to feel welcome—without shame or judgment.
FOR TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS & FAMILIES
A story to read.
A conversation to begin.
Try a gentle question
What do you notice Lily feeling?
Who could she ask for help?
What might make a new place feel more welcoming?
Invite children to draw a comfort friend or a welcoming space. Sharing is optional. Children never need to explain private experiences.
Bring a story to your space
Interested in a classroom, library, or community reading? Tell us the age group, setting, and what you have in mind. We’ll follow up about availability.
Ask about a reading visit →Requests are not confirmed bookings. Educational review and visit arrangements are handled individually.
SUPPORT · VOLUNTEER · PARTNER
Help the next
chapter happen.
Sponsor books for children, help at a story event, explore a partnership, or request a reading visit. No purchase is needed to join our adventures.
CLEAR CHOICES. HUMAN REVIEW.
Your story stays yours.
Privacy and story-sharing notes
Stories and get-involved requests are stored in TDCC’s private review dashboard. Email subscriptions and donations are handled by Zeffy under its own privacy terms. Your email stays private. We collect your words, optional display name, selected permissions, and submission date. No analytics trackers or public comments are used.
Our process is: an adult submits a story; TDCC records their separate sharing choices; a person reviews the story; only approved stories with permission are featured. Submitting a story will not guarantee publication. Website and social permissions will be separate from any future email subscriptions.
To request a correction, withdraw permission, or delete your submission, email info@thatdaycommunitycorner.org from the email you submitted. TDCC reviews private and declined entries for deletion after 12 months; you can request deletion sooner. Published stories stay until you request removal or TDCC retires them. Removing a social post cannot remove copies others have already shared. Families may participate without submitting a story or using social media.
Social posts will require their own platform accounts and rules. A hashtag does not grant TDCC permission to reuse someone’s content. Future photos of people will need a separate release process.
Accessibility and future editions
The first edition is a basic printed book. A simple sewn Gabe companion is also planned. Page audio, Spanish translation, Braille, tactile pages, and a physical Gabe companion are goals for later phases. These are not currently available products. Any heated or scented version would be a separate future development project.
This site uses readable type, keyboard controls, image descriptions, and reduced-motion preferences. No audio plays automatically. A website reading tool can read the text; the book’s page-by-page recordings are still to be produced.
About the book and mental health
Lily & Gabe encourages conversation and awareness. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace individualized care. A comfort object is one option alongside relationships and support; there is no single object everyone needs.
The book reflects Christina and Gabby’s story and creative direction. AI tools supported text development and illustration. The final book is being prepared for educational review.