Book Dedications That Inspire

From My Uncle is an Alien

One of my favorite parts of a book is the dedication. Some are laugh-out-loud hysterical, others are deeply moving and there are a handful that have stuck with me. When I wrote My Uncle is an Alien, who to dedicate the book to came easy for me. Since it’s a children’s book, I felt it should be dedicated to children. And since it’s the first book I wrote, I wanted to go out with a bang and make sure all the children in my life were included.

Then came what exactly to write in the dedication. I went through some drafts, early on the dedication was short and to the point, but then I dug deep and added to it. At the end, I was happy with the outcome because I captured something meaningful. Because, after all, the dedication is one of the most important parts of a book.

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Here are some of my favorite book dedications that have inspired me:

The Little Prince
Written and Illustrated by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

I ask children to forgive me for dedicating this book to a grown-up. I have a serious excuse: this grown-up is the best friend I have in the world. I have another excuse: this grown-up can understand everything, even books for children. I have a third excuse: he lives in France where he is hungry and cold. He needs to be comforted. If all these excuses are not enough, then I want to dedicate this book to the child whom this grown-up once was. All grown-ups were children first. (But few of them remember it.) So I correct my dedication:
TO LEON WERTH
WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY

I Am Perfectly Designed
Written by Karamo Brown and Jason “Rachel” Brown
Illustrated by Anoosha Syed

This book is dedicated to every child and adult who has ever felt different or not good enough. You can have the life you want and deserve because you have the tools to attain it. You are perfectly designed…and please never forget that.
-Love, K.B. and J.B.

Held at a Distance
MY REDISCOVERY OF ETHIOPIA
Written by Rebecca Haile

To my children and their cousins, who will decide for themselves how to define their relationship to Ethiopia.

Rules of the HOUSE
Written by Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Matt Myers

For Sarah Wheeler -M.B.
For Julia, who loves rules but isn’t afraid to break them – M.M.

Dragons Love Tacos 2, The Sequel
Written by Adam Rubin
Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

To my loving sister, BRYCE. So sorry about the typo in the first book. Thanks for your understanding. You’re the beast sister!
-AR
(Thanks to Justin West for the correction. In the book it actually says “beast sister.” I wonder if there will be part 3 of the book where Adam Rubin makes the correction and actually redeems himself!)

For Dave and Mike
-DS

(The dedication in the first book was written as follows:
To my loving sister Bruce: smart, beautiful, and full of laughter. )

What are some of your favorite book dedications? Let me know here and you will possibly be featured on the site.