They say that sharing the ancient lore of your ancestors is instrumental for your children's social development as they grow up. Well now, us millennials can share our very important 90s-00's culture with our kids thanks to the brand new book from local Downers Grove mom and author Candice DelPercio in her debut children's book, My Mom is a Millennial.
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From her website: "My Mom Is a Millennial is a playful, rhyming picture book that takes kids on a colorful trip back to the 90s, long before smartphones, streaming, and instant everything. Told through a series of fun, memory-filled moments, the story brings to life the quirks, fun, and everyday magic of growing up in one of the most unforgettable eras.
At its heart, this book is about connection. It’s a way for parents to share pieces of their childhood, spark conversation, and create moments of bonding through storytelling and bright, detailed illustrations."
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About the Author:
I had the opportunity to ask Candice a few questions to help us get to know her a little bit better, and find out more about her process and inspiration in creating "My Mom is a Millennial". Read on:
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your connection to Chicagoland/Downers Grove?
I grew up in Darien and moved to Downers Grove in middle school, so this area has always been home. I earned my BA in Fine Arts before heading west to Los Angeles and then to Houston, before ultimately returning to Downers Grove to raise my daughter. My husband is also from Downers, and we truly love this community and raising our daughter here. I’ve always been creative, finding different ways to express myself through carpentry, upcycling, dancing, and storytelling.
What inspired you to write this book?
The real push came from these small, everyday moments with my daughter. I’d catch myself trying to explain things from my childhood and I realized how hard it is to show that world with just words.
It hit me that our kids aren’t just growing up in a different time, they’re growing up in a completely different experience of childhood. And I didn’t want those stories to just be quick explanations or get lost over time. I wanted to bring them to life in a way that felt fun, visual, and interactive for her. So the final push was really this desire to create something tangible. A way for millennial parents to relive those memories, but more importantly, a way for our kids to actually see and understand them.
What millennial artifacts helped get you in the perfect vibe to write this?
Me and my illustrator really tried to think of everything. I wanted every page to feel packed with those little details that instantly take you back. Things like old VHS tapes, burned CDs with Sharpie labels, a Discman, disposable cameras, floppy disks, lava lamps, or even the scrolling TV guide. It wasn’t even about using them literally in the writing, it was more about triggering the feeling that helped shape the tone of the book. And now I actually have a box of 90s “artifacts” that I bring to school visits. I let kids pull items out and guess what they are, and it always leads to the best reactions and conversations. It's also great for them to hold something tangible that they are seeing in the book to better understand it.
If you had to pick one piece of millennial culture to bring back to today's children, what would it be?
That is a TOUGH question! I'd bring back being unreachable. It created this sense of independence, patience, and even a little bit of mystery. You had to figure things out on your own, entertain yourself, and be present in whatever you were doing. And then when you were connected, something like AIM felt so exciting!! And from a child’s perspective, I think it also built a lot of imagination. Without constant entertainment, we had to create our own fun, and that’s something I’d love for kids today to experience more of.
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Candice also does readings and school visits, which are really interactive! She brings items that are featured in the book that kids may not have ever seen before, allowing them to interact, ask questions, and let their curiosity run wild thinking about the luxuries and differences between their childhood experience in today's world.
Want to bring this fun piece of nostalgia into your family storytime? You can find her hardcover book on whitecloudkids.com or the softcover version on Amazon.
Do you know another local author that should be featured on Macaroni KID's Local Author Spotlight? Tell us about them so we can help spread the word! We love supporting local business owners, entrepreneurs, creatives, and authors!
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