"Tears ran down my face many times when I drew," says Hu who spent two days sketching and four days adjusting and coloring the book."I stayed up several days to work on the project because I wanted people to read the book as soon as possible."

The picture book was also adapted into an audio version, with the Chinese narration dubbed by Zhou Xuemei, a host at China Central Television, and Zhou's 4-year-old daughter. The English narration was done by Gu Qiubei, an associate professor at Shanghai International Studies University and 5-year-old Ye Zijun, who lives in Wuhan.

Shi Yu, marketing editor of the book, says the publishing house has printed 20,000 copies and the e-book and audio versions are available online for free.

Wu says her team and the publisher have decided to give 10,000 copies free-of-charge to children around the country, and the first batch of books have already been received by the children whose parents went to Hubei.

In the end of the book, the little girl asks,"Mommy, you'll come back for my birthday, right?"

"Yes, mom will come back!" she answers.

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