Cheryl and Jeffrey Katz are the founders of a design firm. In this larky and playful book, they present photographs and commentary on 50 treasured companions that played a transitional role in childhood. Most of us had a stuffed animal or beloved object that helped us make it through the night, deal with our fears, and warm our hearts with feelings of comfort. Cheryl recalls Farfel, a terrier named after a character on a Nestle Quik commercial, and Jeffrey had Toppy, a pink plaid elephant sporting a beret who was named for the 1950's-era To Value stamp program.

On these pages you will find adorable photographs of children's companions along with little stories about them. The excerpt contains a sample of the memories accompanying these treasures. After reading this playful work, Fred took a trip down memory lane and remembered the many fine moments he had with his Roy Rogers doll, a trusty companion and playmate during his early years. Mary Ann recalled her brown teddy bear, who sits on a window sill now with some more recent Beany Baby friends. These objects cue us in to the important spiritual role of love and play in childhood.

Read an excerpt on love