Author, mom and former journalist Phyllis Schwartz?? celebrates friendship and cultural harmony in her latest children's book.
Kristina Houck, Patch Staff
|Updated Thu, Mar 27, 2025 at 1:21 pm PT
ENCINITAS, CA — Encinitas author Phyllis Schwartz celebrates friendship and cultural harmony in her latest children's book.
"Laggie and Grillo: An Unlikely Friendship" tells the story of Yoshi, a young girl who badly wants a pet, but her parents aren't open to the idea. Yoshi befriends some backyard critters who aren't likely to get along and tells their tale in a poem for a classroom assignment.
"You got two critters that are not friendly but the little girl helps them get along," Schwartz told Patch. "My books all have 'let's try to get along, let's choose kindness, let's be accepting of others.'"
Like the character in her story, Schwartz has written poetry and stories since she was a child. As a young girl, Schwartz loved rhyming books, including the classics by Dr. Seuss.
"My parents read to us a lot when we were kids," said Schwartz, who was born in New York City but grew up in San Diego. "When I was a kid, I started writing little stories and poems. My whole life I kept that up because it was kind of like a release."
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Her love of writing ultimately led her to writing and producing local television news. She spent much of her career in Chicago before returning to the West Coast to run the NBC-owned station in San Diego, KNSD-TV.
During her journalism career, Schwartz, a mother of two, continued to write her personal poetry, which led to writing a poem for children and inspired her first children's book in 2022.
"I loved matching the pictures with the words," Schwartz said about her work in the television news business, which helped with becoming a children's author. "It all kind of wove together somehow in my mind. It just evolved into something that felt really holistic and natural to me."
All of Schwartz's books, so far, have been rhyming children's books. They also all have autobiographical elements.
"The books are not about me, but they have pieces of me in them," Schwartz explained.
Schwartz is a survivor of three different types of cancer, over more than three decades. Being a cancer survivor played into her writing her first book, "When Mom Feels Great, Then We Do Too!"
Her concerns about bullying on the playground, the boardroom and beyond, inspired her second book, "Mom Wombat Says Make War No More!"
"Laggie and Grillo," her latest and third book, shares lessons in getting along with a multicultural twist. The book introduces children to several Spanish, Japanese and Yiddish words as Schwartz is Jewish, her husband is of Japanese heritage, and she lives near Mexico.
This book, like her others, explores the themes of getting along and respect, and encourages families to talk about tough subjects, while also having a good time together.
"All of the books make an attempt to bubble up tough topics that parents can talk about with their kids," Schwartz said. "By reading these, it brings up questions."
Each of her books has an easy to follow, healthy recipe. "Laggie and Grillo" has a recipe for inari sushi, a Japanese dish that's one of Schwartz's favorites. The book also has a poetry exercise for young readers and a glossary at the end.
The book features the illustrations of award-winning artist Siski Kalla, who is also the publisher.
"Laggie and Grillo" is available in both hardcover and paperback, as well as e-book formats at Barnes & Noble, Warwick's and Amazon.
Schwartz will be reading and signing her book in a story circle from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Barnes and Noble in Encinitas at 1040 N. El Camino Real. Additional book signings and appearances will be shared on her Instagram and Facebook accounts.
For more information about the book and Schwartz, visit phyllisfeelsgreat.com.