Why Am I Here? — A Graphic Novel

Cover: a father and daughter hold hands on a hilltop with a red dog, bird and flower

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For Annie

Merry Christmas!

Love, Dad

December 25, 2007

Annie was a sweet girl who loved to run and play. She also loved to ask questions — but she did not always understand the answers.

— 1 —

Daddy on a bench while Annie stands on the hill

One day, Annie and her Daddy went to the park.

Daddy sat on the bench — but Annie wanted to run, and play, and ask questions.

— 2 —

IThe Dog

While Annie played she saw a big, furry, red dog. She was so curious she skipped right over to talk to him.

AnnieWhy are you here?

DogI am here to run. I am here to bark. I am here to play.

Annie did not understand.

AnnieWhy don't you meow like a cat? Why don't you fly like a bird?

DogBecause that's not why I'm here.

… and he ran, and he barked, and he played.

— 3 —

IIThe Flower

Annie slides down and finds a pink flower

Annie ran to play on the slide. When she slid to the ground, she found a pretty pink flower.

AnnieWhy are you here?

FlowerI am here to grow. I am here to smell sweet. I am here to reach for the sun.

Annie sits on the slide looking at the smiling flower

Annie did not understand.

AnnieWhy don't you hop like a bunny? Why don't you climb like a monkey?

FlowerBecause that's not why I'm here.

… and it smiled in the sunshine, and it did smell sweet.

— 4 —

IIIThe Bird

Annie climbs the jungle bars as a blue bird lands

Annie ran off to climb the jungle bars. As she climbed, a little blue bird landed on the bar.

AnnieWhy are you here?

BirdI am here to sing. I am here to fly. I am here to build a nest for my eggs.

Annie hangs from the bar near the blue bird

Annie did not understand.

AnnieWhy don't you bark like a dog? Why don't you smell sweet like a flower?

BirdBecause that's not why I'm here.

… and she flew to her nest to sing a sweet song.

— 5 —

IVWhy Am I Here?

Annie finds her Daddy and asks why she is here

Annie jumped down and found her Daddy. He was not on the bench. It was time to go home.

AnnieWhy am I here?

DaddyYou are here to live, and to love, and to ask questions.

Annie did not understand.

AnnieIf I am here to ask questions, why don't I understand?

DaddyBecause that's not why you're here.

— 6 —

Annie and Daddy walk home together at sunset

The dog barked, and the flower grew, and the bird sang — and Daddy held Annie's hand as they walked home together.

— 7 —

The End

Written and illustrated by Adam Brown for his daughter, Annie.

Originally a hand-drawn picture book, Christmas 2007.
Re-bound as a graphic novel — same drawings, same heart.