Aguirre, Marianella

Born the middle child in a family of eleven, with five children of her own and five grandchildren, Lexi H. Johnson has many true life experiences from which to create Little Joe Smileyhead. Though many of the adventures are actual experiences of her fifth child, Victoria, the character of Joe is based on a real boy that Lexi cared for after the death of her severely handicapped infant son, Anthony. Caring for Joe and his little brother Jake helped her to heal from the pain of losing Anthony who she lost at only 21 months. Lexi lives with her children and grandchildren only a few miles from her...