Amanda Lee and Shante Willis came together through their individual pursuits in law, but it was through parenting where their gifts really shined as a unit.

Ever since the pair met at the University of Maryland Law School in 2002, they have had several shared experiences, even becoming parents to three children each. It was through their parentage that served as the inspiration for them to work together to create the bedtime story “Oakley and Ivan and the All-Nighter.” On Saturday the duo met with the PW Perspective during the Read Across America Children’s Book Event in Stafford to discuss their friendship, being parents, and their own adventures since becoming writers.

“The purpose of the book was to create something that could make bed time fun,” said Willis. “Getting children ready for bed is one of the most difficult things to do, so we wanted to incorporate a story that they could relate to as well as enjoy.”

She emphasized the important of making Ivan a Black character. “We wanted to create someone who was diverse, and thought it was really important for kids to see a character that looked like them.”

Lee described what it was like when they decided to partake in this endeavor. “Shante and I were like ‘Why Not?’,” said Lee. “We each have three children, so we can relate to what it’s like.”

“Parenting is hard, so we wanted to do anything we could to make it easier.”

Lee goes on to describe the book’s unique value. “The book uses singing and dancing to help children get ready to sleep, which is a bit different from what you would normally think of when you think of bedtime. However, parents and children really enjoy it.”

In addition to creating the book, they also use their webpage to share inspirational content for parents.

If you would like to purchase their book, visit their website as well as their Facebook and Instagram pages.