Storytelling father, captivated daughter team up on series of children’s books

By Brian Nordli

Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013 | 2 a.m.

Once upon a time at a home in Las Vegas, a father was tucking his daughter into bed when she asked him to tell her a story she had never heard before.

It was a difficult request; the father had exhausted every story he knew. Every day on walks to the park, at the park and at bedtime, he spun tales of Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and other classic characters. He had a way of acting out the dwarves, princesses and evil witches that kept his daughter captivated for hours. It was their ritual.

But now, the father had to create one. So he made a deal with his daughter: They’d make it up together. They created three mice — Bibole, the son; Rivol, the father; and Michelle, the mother — who all lived in a nearby forest. The story would be about their adventures.

So began the creation of Brian Fujikawa’s first self-published children’s book in the series titled “The Adventures of Bibole, Rivol and Michelle.” Today the series has blossomed into four books, with plans for 36 more and a goal to be published.

Fujikawa creates each story with and for his daughter Daisy, now 10 years old and living with her mother and stepfather in Baltimore. The stories have forged a bond that keeps father and daughter united despite living 2,100 miles apart.

“I do this because I love my daughter,” Fujikawa said. “She gets the very first of all the books. Every time I send them to her, she’ll send me pictures back of her and the books. It makes me happy.”

At first glance, Fujikawa looks like the last person who would write children’s books. He is built like a linebacker and works for a private security company, a job in which he has traveled around the world protecting people.

Yet, when Daisy was born, Fujikawa’s life changed. His world revolved around Daisy and her desires. Telling stories became an integral part of their relationship. Everywhere they went, Daisy begged her father to tell her a story.

“That’s a big connection with her dad,” said Daisy’s mother, Kim Stuart. “Not only them making the stories together, but Brian is also one of the greatest storytellers you’ll ever meet. It’s a swarm of creativity and entertainment all together.”

Three years ago, when Daisy moved to Baltimore with her mother and stepfather, Fujikawa worried he might lose that connection. That year, he decided to self-publish “The Curse of the Weremouse,” the first story they created at her bedside.

Daisy couldn’t believe it.

“It feels like I’m exploding,” Daisy said. “It’s so fun to see the covers and see it written out. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, my dream has been written down on paper.’”

Fujikawa’s fear quickly dissipated. Daisy visits him eight times a year and calls Fujikawa four times a week. Almost every time, Daisy begs Fujikawa to tell her a story.

“I cringe every once in a while because I know for a fact she’ll say, ‘Daddy can you tell me a story?'” Fujikawa said laughing. “Now understand, when a book is written she no longer wants to hear that story because she has it.”

The books stem from their phone calls. Daisy came up with the main characters, the ninja suits and secret cave in “The French Fry Caper,” and the “purple bubbly stuff” that makes a character, Herman, turn into a weremouse in the first book.

Fujikawa infuses the books with the same main characters and a theme ranging from family to sharing and responsibility. Daisy is a recurring character, like Christopher Robin in “Winnie the Pooh,” is pictured on the author’s page and is in the acknowledgements. Everything is dedicated to her.

“When I say my daughter helped me create these, she literally helped me create these,” Fujikawa said.

He makes sure Daisy has final say in the books, and Fujikawa sends her the first copy.

“I’ll read them a thousand times,” Daisy said. “There are some times that I love them so much I sleep with them.”

The books, which are sold on Amazon and at bookstores, have gained popularity. Fujikawa has read them to children at more than 50 schools across the country. An executive at Trafford Publishing has told him the stories have a “Disney quality.” Fujikawa’s goal is to become published and paid to write the books.

Still, none of that matters as much as the opportunity to tell and create stories for his daughter. Fujikawa’s favorite moment was the day he read his books at his daughter’s school in Baltimore. His daughter introduced him.

“To me,” Fujikawa said, “that was heaven.”