Our Subway Baby
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Author | Peter Mercurio |
|---|---|
| Illustrators | Leo Espinosa |
| Language | English |
| Subject | LGBT adoption |
| Genre | Children's literature, Memoir |
| Publisher | Dial Press |
Publication date | September 15, 2020 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 40 |
| ISBN | 9780525427544 |
| OCLC | 1132238174 |
Our Subway Baby is a picture book written by Peter Mercurio, illustrated by Leo Espinosa, and published September 15, 2020 by Dial Press. The book tells the true story of how Pete and his husband, Danny, found and eventually adopted their son, Kevin.
Based on a true story, Our Subway Baby illustrates how author Peter Mercurio and his husband Danny Stewart saved an infant child in New York City’s Union Square Subway station.[1] At the station, Danny Stewart momentarily glanced at the floor and saw what he initially believed was a baby doll wrapped in a sweatshirt.[2] However, he soon realized the baby was a living infant and promptly called 911.[3] After retrieving the child, the authorities named him Daniel “ACE” Doe in honor of Stewart and the A/C/E subway line.[4] The discovery occurred in August 2000 and the baby was later adopted in December 2002.[2] Mercurio is a New York-based author who, in addition to writing this book, has also written a handful of plays, as well as founded Other Side Productions, a nonprofit theatre company.[5] As of 2020, Mercurio's son Kevin is 20 years old and a math and computer science major in college.[4]
Style
The book contains digital mixed media art illustrations throughout, and also includes pictures of the author, his partner, and their son many years after the events depicted in the book.[6]
Summary
The book follows the two fathers as they navigate the court system in their journey to adopt Kevin. The narrative covers their initial discovery of the baby in the subway, their contact with authorities, and the finalization of the adoption process. The book illuminates the importance of family support as their extended families come together to help the new fathers.[7]