Fairhaven Mom Publishes Childrens Book Inspired By Fishing Families

When Melanie Pereira was a little girl in New Bedford she had a problem. Her daddy was a fisherman who regularly went out to sea for a week or more. He'd come home for two or three days, but then it was time for him to head back out to sea on another fishing trip.

Melanie missed her father dearly when he was away. She was definitely a daddy's girl, and missing her dad is something many local fishing families can certainly relate to.

A Childhood Memory That Became a Book

To comfort her daughter during those long absences, Melanie’s mother came up with a magical solution. Whenever Melanie missed her dad at bedtime, her mother would tell her she had a bag filled with kisses that her father had left behind before going out on the boat.

She would leave the room and return with a kiss from dad.

Young Melanie believed the bag of kisses was real, and searched the house countless times hoping to find it.

Those childhood moments stayed with her for years.

Get our free mobile app

Turning a Family Tradition Into a Children's Story

In 2023, Pereira began quietly writing the Bag of Kisses children's story in the Notes app on her phone. She worked on the book for months, rewriting it many times to get it just the way she wanted it.

Local illustrator Olivia Coucci helped bring the story to life with illustrations that include recognizable New Bedford locations. Readers may notice familiar scenes like the New Bedford waterfront, Butler Flats, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum hidden throughout the illustrations.

Pereira kept the entire project a secret from her family until this past Christmas, when she surprised them with the finished book.

Words can't describe the emotion her family had once they saw their story in a published children's story.

Her father now carries the book everywhere.

Where Can Families Find Bag of Kisses

Bag of Kisses is currently available through BookBaby Bookshop and will soon be available on Amazon.

For families connected to fishing, travel, military service, or any job that keeps parents away from home, the story offers a comforting reminder that love is never far away.