Grand Rapids, MI, June 29, 2009- Zonderkidz™, the leading publisher of children’s Bibles and Bible storybooks, today announces the winner of the “King of Your World” Father’s Day contest. Roseanne* of Fullerton, Calif. will be giving her 83-year-old father, Kenneth*, a very special present this Father’s Day; a 46” Sony Bravia HDTV.
Zonderkidz sponsored the “King of Your World” contest to celebrate the debut of Dance Me, Daddy by Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter Cindy Morgan. The gorgeous new picture book celebrates the special bond between fathers and daughters. It is based on a song that will be played for father/daughter wedding day dances for years to come: King of the World, also written by Morgan. With lively illustrations by Philomena O’Neill, Dance Me, Daddy recalls the days when Daddy was the "King of the World.” The book includes a CD with the song King of the World performed by the Christian/Country trio Point of Grace, as well as a reading of the book by Morgan.
Entrants of the “King Of Your World” contest on www.DanceMeDaddy.com told stories about their own father, or a special father figure in their lives. After reading hundreds of entries, Zonderkidz notified the winner just in time for Father’s Day about the TV her family will give to Kenneth, an 83-year-old father of 11.
“I am extremely excited,” Roseanne says. “When I got the call, I was lying down and resting with my grandson. My brother brought me the phone and when I found out I won, I said ‘What?! No Way!’”
Roseanne’s Winning Story:
“My Dad is now 83 years old, and not in the best of health. He's lived a long life that is now winding down. But, he fathered 11 children with my mother and I have many happy memories of him. How he took us on weekend one-day road trips when we were younger, just piling us in the car and driving somewhere like the mountains or the beach, stopping for sandwich or BBQ fixings along the way. Or going to museums. Or camping. Fun was all about just doing it, long before that was a slogan for sneakers.
But, the most poignant memory I have of him is something I just found out a few years ago from one of my sisters. My son was kidnapped at the age of five by his father, who is a citizen of another country. My Dad and my son, Daniel, were very close, Dad used to call him ‘Dano,’ after the character in Hawaii Five-O. They were buddies, and Dad took him on errands with him on his days off, and treated him like his own son.
February of 1979 was the worst month of my life and the most difficult moment was telling my father that Daniel was gone. When I told him that Daniel's father had taken him he said, ‘He wouldn't do that,’ and kept doing what he was doing. I thought he was in denial, but later realized that he was hurting beyond belief. Dad began to go ‘missing’ on weekends, the mountain, beach, museum and camping trips came to a halt.
I didn't know until my sister told me all these years later that Dad used to go ‘looking’ for Daniel, at parks in the city where Daniel's father had lived. Dad had hoped that they really hadn't left the country, that he would see them playing at a park as they used to do, and he would find Daniel for me and return him home. I cried when I found this out, because I then realized how devastated he was when Daniel was taken.
Daniel was returned 10 years, nine months after he was taken, and he and Dad took up their close relationship once again. Dad paid for his trip home, bought him new clothes, took him to all the places they liked to eat, and has treated him like a son again. He has his ‘buddy’ back. And, Daniel still calls him ‘Dad.’ My Dad never gave up hope, and he had tears in his eyes at the airport as my son walked off the plane. He has always been there for me, for his grandson, for all his children, grandchildren, and now his great-grandchildren. He has been our provider, a pillar of strength, and taught our family how to persevere in the face of tribulation.”
*Winner has asked for last names to be kept confidential
The song King of the World from Point of Grace’s Album “How You Live: Deluxe Edition” debuted on Christian radio nationwide in May 2009.
“The first time we heard King of the World we all cried,” says Point of Grace singer Denise Jones, who together, earned the 2009 Dove Award with Cindy Morgan for “Best Recorded Country Song” this past April. “All three of us have incredible fathers and we’re thankful to have a song that pays tribute to them. There just aren’t a lot of songs out there that highlight the true importance of a father’s role in a girl’s life.”
Dance Me, Daddy (Zonderkidz™, May 2009, 978-0-310-71762-1, $16.99, Hardcover) is available wherever books are sold and makes the perfect Father’s Day gift and Father-of-the-Bride gift for weddings. Visit www.DanceMeDaddy.com for more information.
“I wanted this book to reflect how blessed we are to have such special fathers in our lives,” says Morgan. “I am so thankful to be here and have a wonderful husband, who is a great Daddy to our two healthy daughters! It’s my hope that Dance Me, Daddy and King of the World can help us all reflect on what gifts these relationships are.”
About Cindy Morgan
Cindy Morgan’s career as an award-winning singer and songwriter has spanned 17 years, with lively contributions to Christian, pop and country music. From the release of her first album "Real Life," which was nominated for six Dove Awards, to her new children’s book, Dance Me, Daddy, the words of Cindy Morgan have touched many lives.
Since 1992, Cindy has recorded 8 albums and written 18 number one hits, including Listen, Praise the King, Take My Life, and I Know You. From John Tesh to BeBe Winans to India Arie to Point of Grace, numerous recording artists have collaborated with Cindy on their tracks, relying on her musical strength and versatility.
In 2008, Cindy won the Dove Award for Songwriter of the Year, as well as the Dove Award for Country Song of the Year for How You Live, recorded by Point of Grace. After writing the song King of the World for Point of Grace’s new album, Cindy was inspired to write Dance Me, Daddy, a children’s book based on the relationship between fathers and daughters. This tender tale of a father and daughter’s relationship is illustrated by a special dance only the two can share. As the young girl grows, she finds a new prince to share dances with, but at her wedding she gets to dance one more time with Dad. Dance Me, Daddy is a touching tribute to this enduring bond.
“Writing this book brought me immense joy,” Cindy says. “I am blessed to have two loving daughters, and I know how much they adore their Daddy. A loving father helps his little girl grow up into a strong, beautiful woman, and I wanted to show both fathers and daughters just how special these memories are.”
Cindy is married to author Sigmund Brouwer and is the mother of two daughters; 8-year-old Olivia and 5-year-old Savannah. Cindy, a native of eastern Tennessee, and her family now divides their time between Canada and Nashville. For more information, please visit www.CindyMorganMusic.com.
King of the World Song Lyrics by Cindy Morgan
Spinning around on the tops of his feet
Smile of the angels could not be so sweet
Wide blue eyes and piggy tails swirl
She’s her daddy’s girl
‘Cause he knows the jokes that always make her laugh
Like tickle time, slapstick and talking too fast
At the end of the day by the light of the moon
We turn up the music in our living room
And she yells
Chorus
Dance me dance me around
‘Til my feet don’t ever touch down
‘Cause there’s nothing better than being your girl
And if I am your princess then daddy,
You are, king of the world
It’s funny how life moves in circles of time
To think not so long ago that face was mine
Houses get smaller and we take different names
But some things in life stay the same
Chorus
Some day she’ll go off
To find a life of her own
Marry a good man
And make a happy new home
Until she comes back and sees with those same eyes
What time cannot disguise
She walks through the door with that look on her face
‘Cause daddy’s brown hair has all turned to gray
They talk for hours
They cry and they laugh
Watching old movies and thinking back
And just as she turns to go
She says “Hey dad, how ‘bout one for the road?”
Chorus
Chorus
Spinning around on the tops of his feet
Smile of the angels could not be so sweet
©2008 Word Music, LLC, Lola Max Music (ASCAP) (All rights adm. by Word Music, LLC)
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