Treating our neighbors with empathy is essential for building a strong, supportive and harmonious community. Longtime Marple resident Douglas Gillin has taken this concept and turned it into a unique book called MpathE – A Path Inside of ME (A Book for Everyone). Although written for children, it’s a book that people of all ages can appreciate, and it is a reminder of how important empathy is to foster a sense of connection.
Douglas is a professional graphic designer who has been striving to create and communicate in various forms of media for over 25 years. His idea for the book came about during the pandemic. “Like so many of us, I found myself with more time on my hands,” he said. “I never really planned on writing a children’s book, but what started out as thought about a little phonetic coincidence grew into a poem, and then I feel the poem found its purpose.”
MpathE – A Path Inside of ME (A Book for Everyone) tells a short and simple story of personal growth… from one thinking and caring just about oneself (M-E), to one living and acting with empathy (M-path-E) and caring for those around them. “The book aims to be meaningful to children, as well as embraceable and enjoyable to people of all ages,” Doug added.
What makes Doug’s book so unique is that it uses word and letter phonetics and combines simple elements such as “childlike” paint, “adult” print and torn paper. “The book shows moments on the paths inside of ourselves, where we have the chance to imagine ourselves in the positions of others and choose to treat them the way we would want to be treated,” Doug explained.
When Doug was writing the book, he was inspired by some of his own favorite children’s books, such as Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends and Harold and the Purple Crayon. “I gravitated towards books in black and white,” he explained. “Conceiving a book devoid of color allows the words and letters to remain the focus.”
For the images in the book, Doug enlisted the help of his two favorite artists – his sons, John (12) and Lucas (7). “Working on the book together with my boys has definitely been one of the most special things I’ve gotten to do as a father,” he said proudly.
Doug’s own interest in the creative arts began when he was a young boy. He grew up here in Broomall with his parents and two brothers and began his Marple Newtown School District career at Russell Elementary. His first-grade teacher remembers Doug as creative and artistic. “I was impressed with his talents,” said Dolores Antenucci. “At six years old, he was a polite, attentive and warm-spirited child who was ever so humble in reference to his talents and strengths. I was always proud of him, and I continue to take pride in all his accomplishments as an adult.”
Later, as a student at Marple Newtown High School, Doug continued to pursue artistic endeavors. He was a member of the school’s Marching Band, where he played the saxophone, and he acted in several plays, including The Crucible, Pippin and The Music Man.
Doug furthered his education at the Tyler School of Art, earning his degree in 1999. Although he enjoyed many artistic mediums, he focused on graphic design. For the past couple of decades, Doug has been a graphic designer, where he’s worked for various companies in brand management and advertising. “I help companies with solutions to develop their brand,” he explained.
MpathE – A Path Inside of ME debuted in 2024 and is a reminder that we all need help now and again. “Something I’ve noticed is that it’s easier to not help carry a burden,” Doug said. “It takes time, energy and resources to be empathetic towards others.
With the book, I wanted to bring this universal idea that we need to be strong and carry that burden. Sometimes our neighbors need help. Sometimes we ourselves need help. And we need to take care of each other.” To order a copy of MpathE – A Path Inside of ME visit DouglasGillin.com/mpathe.