The siblings of Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts have immortalized their mother, Lucimarian, in a heartwarming new picture book.
Lawrence “Butch” Roberts and Sally-Ann Roberts wrote “Lucy Sings on Lucy Street” as a tribute to the Roberts family matriarch, which is based on her upbringing on Lucy Street in Akron, Ohio. The book’s heroine, Lucimarian “Lucy” Tolliver, spends her childhood days happily playing in the neighborhood with her best friend, Wanda, and enjoying having her grandpa nearby.
When the Depression strikes and causes financial calamity for 8-year-old Lucy and her family, she struggles to keep her spirits high. But one night — and one song — may encourage her to keep shining even in the darkest of times. The story shows the uplifting power of music and its ability to sustain hope through periods of strife.
“We grew up with music in our household,” Sally-Ann recalled during a recent Good Morning America interview with her sister. “Every time mom came home, whatever mood she was in, happy sad, whatever, she’d sit at that piano, and she would just play and sing.”
Her brother, Butch, added, that music is the universal language — one his mother spoke fluently.
“There’s something about it that just touches the heart, the spirit,” he says, “and that’s one thing that mom was able to do is to bring that spirit out.”
Beautifully illustrated by Jestenia Southerland, “Lucy Sings on Lucy Street” contains an epilogue by Robin Roberts and timeless wisdom from the heroine.
“Life is filled with ups and downs,” Lucy shares. “No matter what, keep a song in your heart. Keep singing.”
The book will be available locally at Robin’s Nest in the Pass, a gift shop and gallery owned by Roberts sibling Dorothy Roberts, as well as through numerous retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and Books-A-Million.