Once I was finally done writing, revising, and editing The Other Felix and the book was on its way to production, I started putting my list of acknowledgments together. Now, I had not written an acknowledgments page for any of my four novels for adults. For those, I don't do research, I don't share my drafts with other readers, and the books generally go straight to the publisher.

But The Other Felix seemed different. A number of people had definitely helped it on its way. And, frankly, I was feeling so great about everything that I just wanted to spread the love.

My first list was long. I believe I may have included Mayor Daley and I wasn't even that much of a fan. So I did another draft in which I whittled it down to essentials. It was still pretty long, butI decided that was OK and sent it on to my editor, Kate Jacobs.

Kate told me it was a nice list but encouraged me to think about it in context, as it would appear in a book for kids. I looked at it again with new eyes and decided that, as usual, she was right: my list was really written for grownups, not kids. And while I hope a lot of adults read my book, too, a lengthy acknowledgments page makes a weird coda for a kid who has just read the last scene in a novel. If the kid is immersed in the story, the experience could be like stepping off a ride at Disneyland and then having having a guy in a suit make you read the names of the people who built it. 

So I didn't put my acknowledgments in the book. But I still want to thank people for their roles, direct and indirect, in the creation and publication of this book. So I'm going to share it in some grownup contexts—such as, for instance, here.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my beautiful wife, Marya, for her unsung labors as the silent partner in my writing career, and for giving me two sons who have made my life complete. Felix and Cosmo, you make me happy every single day and I love you both more than you can possible imagine. Thank you for being patient when I’m busy writing. Felix, your dream started it all—and, Cosmo, the next book is for you!

I owe a special debt to my friend and colleague, Ilene Cooper, for giving me astute, helpful notes on several drafts. Her advice, encouragement, and generosity were invaluable on the road to publication. Nancy McCulloch, my mother, and Ian Chipman, another friend and colleague, also read early versions and shared helpful feedback.

Lauren Wohl, thank you for falling in love with the book and championing it. Kate Jacobs, thank you for editing it with such care and clear thinking. And Ken Wright, thank you for being honest about my ideas, good AND bad.

While busy parents work, other people help them raise their children. I would like to publicly acknowledge the warmth and dedication of the caregivers and teachers at Corporate Childcare Consultants, Park View Montessori, and Walt Disney Magnet School in Chicago. Though you may have been a part of our lives for only a brief while, your influence will last a lifetime.

Finally, a shout-out and a slice of pizza to super babysitters Sadie, Mandii, Kathia, Camilla, Andrea—and others we're just getting to know.