Social Work major Maggie Spadaro ’25 recently published a children’s book that fosters awareness and empathy regarding individuals experiencing homelessness. We spoke with her about this unique project, Simmons’ vital community, and her social justice-related aspirations.
“My goal is to help parents and educators start to discuss the topic of housing insecurity with their kids in an approachable, age-appropriate way that is easy for them to understand,” says social work major Maggie Spadaro ’25, author of My Friend Doesn’t Have a House (Cove Publishing, 2024).
Featuring illustrations by Kseniia Kudriavtseva, Spadaro’s debut book revolves around two characters named Milo and Sam; the two are elementary school friends, around 8 years old. “Milo finds out that his friend Sam does not have a house. Sam explains what this situation looks like, including living in a shelter,” Spadaro recounts. “Milo finds Sam’s situation unfair and tries to do everything he can think of to help his friend’s family get a house. Basically, the story teaches kids to be there to support their friends, even if they cannot resolve the challenges their friends face.”
Dignifying Homelessness with Storytelling
During her research, “I did not really find any children’s books that focus on housing insecurity, so it was really important for me to write a story centering this topic,” Spadaro notes. “Rather than focusing on poverty … I want children who live in shelters to be represented in a dignified and humanized way … My story makes it clear that Sam and his family aren’t miserable; they have a loving family, access to food and shelter, and many other things that we have, but it looks a little different.”
In this way, My Friend Doesn’t Have a House promotes empathy and gratitude among children from greater socioeconomic means and enables lower-income children to feel seen and heard.
While Spadaro’s target audience comprises children between 5 and 8 years old, as well as their parents and educators, “ideally, this book is for readers of all ages and all backgrounds,” she suggests. “It’s really about education and representation.”
An Online Degree Completion Program student based in Mystic, Connecticut, Spadaro’s multifaceted work experience has enabled her to engage with diverse populations. As an elementary school paraeducator and a nanny, she has interacted with children from affluent backgrounds. She has also supported children inhabiting low-income housing and family shelters.
As Spadaro told The Westerly Sun, “I think a lot of kids from more affluent homes have no idea of the struggles other kids might be having, especially struggles with homelessness … Although their living situations may be different, I believe all kids can relate to one another.”
The warm, wide-ranging reception of Spadaro’s book affirms her mission. For instance, a single mother who had recently recovered from homelessness checked the book out from a local library and read it to her daughter. “The mother said it was the first time that their story was told in a children’s book,” Spadaro recalls. Another reader who had experienced homelessness in the past (though his children have not), identified with the characters in Spadaro’s story. “He wrote a lovely message to us describing just how much the book meant to him … and that was the best feedback I could receive from anyone,” she says. Moreover, young readers have remarked how they recognized their friends (or themselves) in the narrative.
This summer, Spadaro will be traveling to several public libraries in Massachusetts and Connecticut to read My Friend Doesn’t Have a House to local children and community members.
In the future, she hopes to issue a Spanish translation of her book. “There is a vast Spanish-speaking population in the United States,” notes Spadaro, who is currently (re)learning the language. “We often see a connection between racial minorities and housing and/or food insecurity, so it would be great for Spanish-speaking families to be able to read this.”
Most recently, Spadaro drafted a second book manuscript, which offers an empathetic approach to foster care.
Women’s-Centered Collaboration
Spadaro’s book project generated partnerships with seasoned professionals, family members, and longtime friends. After she completed the manuscript for My Friend Doesn’t Have a House, it dawned on her that she could co-create her own publishing company, which would also support the work of other social justice-motivated authors.
In 2023, Maggie and her sister Jen Spadaro (who will begin graduate studies at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business in fall 2025) co-founded Cove Publishing Group. “Jen is the biggest book lover I have ever known. She loves to read, write, and edit, and has a vast knowledge of business and financial-related matters too,” says (Maggie) Spadaro. “And since I am a creative type and enjoy the marketing and promotions aspects, we make a great team,” she adds.
This collaboration extended to friend, neighbor, and graphic designer Kimberly Palmer, who designed Cove Publishing’s logo and brand visuals/color palette. “I appreciate that we are a women-driven company … Working together as women in business and women in the arts has been a wonderful source of support, especially regarding the creation of my first book,” Spadaro says.
The co-founders classify their business as a “boutique” publishing house, which they describe as “small and intentional.” As Spadaro explains, “We never want to publish anything just because we think it is going to sell well. We want to publish stories that resonate with our passion for social justice.”
Working with illustrator Kseniia Kudriavtseva constituted another meaningful collaboration. Spadaro found Kudriavtseva’s portfolio through a freelance artist website. “I looked through so many illustrators’ portfolios, but Kseniia’s work really stood out to me. I love her color palette and how diverse her characters are,” Spadaro says.
This author-artist collaboration struck the ideal balance between narrative integrity and artistic license. “All I did was give the artist my initial manuscript … and noted that there should be a lot of diversity with the illustrations. For instance, Milo has two mothers and is a person of color. And then I let Kseniia run with it,” Spadaro says. “We both had a lot of fun with this process, and it was one of my favorite aspects of publishing this book.”
Studying Social Work at Simmons
Since her childhood, Spadaro has felt drawn to giving to others. She babysat often and prepared baked goods for the local senior center. While pursuing a film studies program at a university in Tennessee, Spadaro began volunteering at a homeless shelter. “I immediately felt a sense of fulfillment, and chose to study social work instead,” she says.
Given its sterling reputation, Spadaro transferred to Simmons’ School of Social Work in fall 2024. She appreciates the flexibility that the online Bachelor of Social Work degree program affords. “I wanted an online platform where I can continue working in my hometown community while getting my degree. Simmons presented the perfect opportunity to do that,” she says.
For Spadaro, Simmons’ virtual community is a vital community. “I have connected with classmates from all over the country,” she says. “The classes are quite small, so you do get to know your classmates, and I have developed friendships with many of them. The professors are wonderful and so supportive.” In fall 2025, Spadaro will begin graduate studies in social work at Columbia University.
“I think that now, more than ever, social workers are so important — especially with all the changes happening at the national level,” says Spadaro. She initially gravitated to a “micro” focus within the social work field (e.g., providing therapy to individuals and families). More recently, her interests have shifted toward “macro” social work, which intersects with advocacy, public health, and policy. Spadaro’s undergraduate internship at the Child and Family Agency (CFA) of Southeastern Connecticut, which provides essential medical and mental health care services to some of the most vulnerable populations, further fuels her desire to expand her disciplinary horizons.
The ramifying effects of social work correlate with Spadaro’s storytelling. “Connecting directly with individuals who have been impacted by my writing is so meaningful … When people feel seen and appreciated by my book, that’s what matters. The story is so much bigger than I am.”