For Hugo,
Nora & Lily

With love

A foundation for the future

This book was made especially for you. Because it matters so much to me that you can carry the age-old, wise lessons from these stories into your own lives, even without those lessons having to come attached to any one religion.

I want to give you a solid foundation for the future. A foundation of self-acceptance and trust, of patience and empathy — not only for the people around you, but above all for yourself.

You're completely free to believe or not believe later on, as long as you keep looking at the world and at yourself with an open and gentle eye.

And I hope this mirror, besides the three of you, may also help many other children find their own way.

Love,

Dad