FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Not Yet: A True Story Picture Book That Helps Families Talk About Love, Grief, and Holding On
Clinton, Iowa – April 20, 2026 — In a tender, true-story picture book now available, author and educator Kerry Espey invites families into a mother–daughter bond told through life’s ordinary moments—and the extraordinary ache of saying goodbye. Not Yet was inspired by real-life moments filled with love, patience, and togetherness.
For many families, grief arrives in layers: first in the changes, then in the realization, and finally in the absence. Not Yet approaches that reality with gentleness. It begins with childhood warmth and a loving phrase that becomes the story’s heartbeat: “Not yet.”
As the girl grows, “not yet” marks the milestones—friendships, independence, adulthood—each time rooted in a mother’s steady care. Later, the phrase takes on new meaning as the adult daughter faces the possibility of loss and wishes for more time. The story becomes a tribute to what families do when time feels fragile: hold hands, share stories, and fill the room with familiar music and love.
Espey wrote the book as a way of holding her mother close through memory and keeping their love alive. Readers who have lost someone they love—or who are walking alongside an aging loved one—may find the story especially resonant.
The book supports families, counselors, educators, grief groups, and caregivers looking for gentle language to open hard conversations—while honoring the truth that love remains.
Media Contact
Kerry Espey
Kerry Espey Books | Clinton, Iowa
About the Book
Not Yet is a heartfelt picture book about perseverance, hope, and believing in yourself—reminding young readers that “not yet” doesn’t mean “never.”