Constance Polamalu, chief operating officer of Zachary’s Jewelers, authored her first children’s book, “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace.”
Annapolis, Md.—Zachary’s Jewelers Chief Operating Officer Constance Polamalu is releasing her first children’s book.
“Zach Bear and the Window Necklace” brings the retailer’s beloved Zach Bear gift to life in a story that celebrates curiosity, bravery, and the joy of helping.
Alongside illustrations by Nick Nikiforou, the story follows a teddy bear named Zach Bear as he watches the Zachary’s Jewelers team put the jewelry in the windows each morning and in the vault each night.
One night, he sees a forgotten necklace left in the window and knows that’s not right. He takes it upon himself to get the necklace out of the window and brings it to the back of the store; however, he does not know the code to the vault.
Zach Bear ends up falling asleep outside the vault wearing the necklace and is found by the team who says “I’m so proud of you, Zach Bear. Thanks for helping.”
From then on, it becomes his job to check and make sure all the windows are clear and everything is packed up for the night.
“Zach Bear and the Window Necklace” was written by Constance Polamalu (right) and includes illustrations by Nick Nikiforou (left). (Left Image Credit: Wendy Hickok Photography)
Zach Bear is a teddy bear that Zachary’s Jewelers gifts to clients they know are expecting a baby, either from them purchasing a push present or from following clients lives after they purchased their engagement rings from the retailer.
They try to get the baby’s name and send a care package to the family including the bear wearing a Zachary’s T-shirt, a handwritten note welcoming the baby to the Zachary’s family, and sometimes a treat for the family as well.
In a phone interview, Polamalu said she was inspired to write the story after her oldest son carried his Zach Bear everywhere.
Her inspiration was “a combination of loving my children and loving reading to them but also loving all of the children that come into the store,” she said.
“Children look at the store so differently than adults do. It’s really beautiful and one of my favorite parts of the day is that we’re a family jeweler, and I get to see so many littles.”
While writing, Polamalu knew a key point she wanted to include was for Zach Bear to not succeed.
“As a mother, I like my children to know that failure happens and it’s okay. If you know what the right thing to do is, you should still try to do it and there’s still honor in not getting something done,” said Polamalu.
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The book is written for preschool-age children and was created to compliment the Zach Bear gifts that customers’ babies received at birth.
It is a connection for these children that Zach Bear lives at Zachary’s Jewelers and creates another memory for them before they can enter the retailer’s jewelry design contest in fifth grade.
“I’m betting that if a child grows up playing in this jewelry store and feeling really comfortable here, when it does come time for them to get engaged, I can’t imagine they’re going to go anywhere else,” said Polamalu.
Zach Bear and the Window Necklace is not available for purchase.
While it is valued at $34.99, it will only be given away as a gift to Zachary’s Jewelers customers at the discretion of the sales team and availability.
The 24-page children’s book is set to debut on April 19 with a book launch and signing event taking place at Zachary’s Jewelers from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The story will be read during the event, and guests can have brunch with Polamalu.
To register for the event, visit the Zachary’s Jewelers website.
