Sunny Horizons opens outdoor library box in memory of Fisher Hughes

Hunter Jones

On Thursday, staff, friends and family gathered outside the doors of Sunny Horizons. Many attendants came with children’s books in tow, ready to help fill Fisher’s Little Library once it’s officially unveiled and opened. The Little Library was started in memory of James ‘Fisher’ Hughes, called a friend by Sunny Horizons. Hughes passed away at 11 in 2024 and they believed this project would be a perfect way to honor his memory. When the library is first revealed, Fisher’s parents, Michelle and Tyler, are able to enjoy much of the small details within the painting.

“(I was) absolutely blown away (seeing the library for the first time). They did an amazing job incorporating all of his books and Fisher in it. There are some of his art in the books as well and on some of the pictures. I could not feel more blessed and proud of what they have done in his honor,” Fisher’s mother, Michelle Hughes said.

Hughes recalls times of walking into a store and Fisher dashing to the book section, ready to pick up a few. Though he was a little too eager to remember that books needed to be paid for, they would always purchase the books he wanted. Now, kids like him can freely grab one, just as he did without a worry. 

The library was painted by one of Sunny Horizon’s staff, Sydney Flippo. When she was approached for the project, she worked to make it a proper tribute to Fisher, reaching out to Michelle to get his favorite book covers when designing the library.

“It was just looking at the cover of the book, how it’s shaped and how I can stretch it to fit the space that I had. The Prince of Egypt was the most detailed one that I had to do so I made sure I had a bigger space for it. I wanted to make sure I had the Love You Forever one on the front. I was telling Michelle that when I look at it and see that book cover, it makes the words come to my brain so I thought that would be really special  to have on the front and that maybe other people have that experience to think of those words and think of Fisher,” Flippo said.

Fisher’s handwriting and drawings are carefully placed around the box, ensuring his place all over the library, with Fisher’s self-portrait visible on both sides and the back of the library, while his name on “Fisher’s Little Library” is shown in his own handwriting.

“As soon as the idea came to me, I knew I was going to make it happen. I would just try to find a place where it looked like he was part of what was happening within this little cartoon world,” Flippo said. “I wanted to kind of bring him into the world wherever I could make it make sense.”

When the pictures are done, many open the door of the library to place their own books inside, ready to ensure that the first child who takes a peak will have plenty of options to take home to enjoy.

As Michelle and Tyler carefully look over the details, they smile and laugh as they find that first Fisher drawing hidden among the art, seemingly overjoyed at how their son will always be remembered through this small encapsulation of his passion for reading.

“This is for kids that might not have that chance to just go into a store and grab a book. They can get that here now and I’m sure he would have loved it,” Michelle said.