Farmington Mother-Son Team Craft Children's Book

FARMINGTON, CT — When a mother and her 6-year-old son work together on a project, it usually involves Leggos, puzzle pieces, or a card game with cute characters on them.

But in the case of Farmington residents Allison Minutillo and her son Anthony Minutillo, 6, their mother-son project in recent months involved getting into the publishing business and doing a book.

Anthony, a first-grader at East Farms Elementary School in Farmington, is the author of "Crabby Goes to First Grade," a published children's chapter book that was illustrated by his mother.

Their work tells the story of "Crabby," who happens to be a crab that is about to start first grade at "Shiny Shell School."

It deals with some of the issues many youngsters feel when leaving the comforts of kindergarten and joining the realm of first grade, something Anthony knows pretty well.

"He’s very nervous. What will the first grade be like? Will his teacher like him? Will he make new friends? Read his adventure to find out," reads the Amazon description of the Minutillos' work.

For Allison Minutillo, the end product is satisfying, especially as it can be purchased on Amazon.com just like any New York Times bestseller.

But, she said, the journey was equally rewarding, as the collaboration with her youngster not only validated her self-confidence as a mother but provided some mother-son bonding en route.

"Working with Anthony on this project has been an experience I’ll cherish forever. The quiet moments spent writing chapters, discussing life, and watching Anthony light up while crafting his author bio page have been the true highlights," she wrote to Patch.

A marketing executive herself, Allison Minutillo said the journey with her son helped her navigate some career challenges over the past year.

As for her son, he can go into second grade and beyond knowing he's, indeed, a published author.

Said his mom, "This year has brought clarity around what truly matters in life, and for that, I am forever grateful. So, here’s to more Crabby books in our series, giggles, scribbles, joy, hard work, and balance for all the years to come."

To purchase 'Crabby Goes to First Grade' on Amazon, click on this link.