CLEVELAND — It was four years ago, when 3News introduced Constance Alexander and her toddler Apollo Bohanon to viewers across Northeast Ohio. The duo was featured on the news for the creative artwork they turned into delicious meals. From animals to cartoon characters, Constance and Apollo made eating healthy a fun and tasty experience not only for their family but for others too. In 2020, Constance and Apollo released a book titled “Cooking with Apollo.”
“During the pandemic we were locked in and we are book lovers and so I would make food preps for him. It inspired me to make a cookbook because it went viral. The book was all because of him,” said Constance.
It was that very book that caused Apollo to become well known at the Book Bank. And, soon after, he became the face of the organization’s "Books Like Me" campaign that aims to increase the number of diverse books they get into the hands of children and homes they serve.
The initiative would also be the legacy Apollo left behind. On June 1, 2024, Apollo collapsed and died. The cause of death is unknown. Apollo would have turned six on Thursday, July 11. So a birthday party was held recently at the Book Bank, attended by family, friends and community members who gathered to celebrate his life and love for reading.
“I hope what people get out of Apollo’s birthday is that they realize the love that we have for Apollo still lives on. And that ... just taking time to read with your kids is so important,” said Apollo’s father Antonio.
Apollo’s face still lights up the Book Bank’s warehouse on posters.
“We are really hopeful that the community sees the importance of honoring Apollo and honoring his love of reading and will continue to support the book bank so we can do so,” said Natalie Friedl, executive director of Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank.
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