September 23, 2021
The Glendale Star
FEATURES
21
Lagos teacher shares her story in children’s book
BY PAUL MARYNIAK
Glendale Star Staff Writer
As a teacher at Kyrene de los Lagos Dual Language Academy in Ahwatukee, Diane Mylod shares the motto: “The power of two languages. The power of two worlds.” So, it is only natural that the Glendale native, who has lived in Ahwatukee for five years, chose to write a children’s book for her first foray into the world of authors, and penned Spanish and English versions. A three-year veteran at Kyrene who is in her ninth year of teaching, Mylod has published “The Avocado Tree” — a semi-autobiographical book that is as rich in personal history, as it is an introduction for little kids to lessons that will help them throughout their life. “It is a book about my father, his avocado tree and my avocado tree,” Mylod explained. “One tree is in Glendale and the other is in Ahwatukee. It is a true story about life, grieving, prosperity and life’s purpose.” Her dad passed away five years ago,
and she wrote it on his birthday, Sept. 15, last year. She released the book on that same date, on what would have been her father’s 75th birthday. Executing the book was a collaborative affair that pulled in her husband and sister-in-law as well as a colleague from Lagos Academy. Her husband Shayne Mylod and her Spanish teammate at Lagos, Andrea Perusquia, helped with the editing. And while her sister-in-law, Moriah Mylod-Daggett, also helped to edit, she had the big job of illustrating it. She said she and Moriah “took quite some time deciding what type of illustrations we were going to use — and it is another thing that makes this book very special.” “Each is unique and hand-painted with watercolors and based on real images,” Diane continued. “Moriah painted the images in expressionism to convey the vibrancy of emotions, thoughts and sensations behind the words that surround this heartfelt story of life legacy.”
Lagos Dual Language Academy teacher Diane Mylod says her first children’s book, “The Avocado Tree,” is as much about her life as it is about life in general. (Photo by Pablo Robles)
Moriah and Diane had known each other growing up in Glendale. “I was drawn to her art and personality,” Diane said. “She now lives in Jersey and teaches art therapy, helps vet-
erans in her community and is a yoga instructor.” It was only a matter of time that Diane also met Moriah’s brother, whom she SEE LAGOS PAGE 22
