Children’s book duo at Inside Story

By Heather Killen

Spectator

NovaNewsNow.com

An award-winning Annapolis Valley duo will be adding a personal touch to their latest children’s book in Greenwood.

Ron and Sandra Lightburn will be at The Inside Story on Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. to sign their popular new children’s book, The Pumpkin People.

Based on the figures that can be seen each autumn along the streets of Kentville, this book written by Sandra and stunningly illustrated by Ron, tells the tale of the secret world of these quirky and sometimes spooky, cornstalk folks.

Ann Wedler, store co-owner, said that she’s pleased the Lightburns can be on hand to personally dedicate the books in time for Christmas. She added it’s an added bonus that the duo lives in the Annapolis Valley and produce work based on local subjects.

TERRIFIC TEAM “They’re a terrific team,” she said. “And because many of the characters are based on the figures you see along the street, it’s something that many Valley residents can appreciate.”

The book also contains an easy to follow set of directions for building your own set of pumpkin people.

Sandra’s first book, Driftwood Cove, won the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize for text and illustration and was shortlisted for the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children's Literature.

Ron's career as a children's book illustrator was launched with his Governor General's Award-winning artwork for Waiting for the Whales, in 1991. Since then he has illustrated numerous other bestselling picture books and has become internationally renowned for his sensitive storytelling skills and range of illustration styles.

The following Friday evening at 7 p.m., on December 12, a second mulit-talented Valley team will be represented as authors Merritt Gibson and Soren Bondrup-Nielsen join illustrator Twila Robar-Decoste to personalize copies of Winter Nature, Common Mammals, Birds, Trees and Shrubs of the Maritimes.

This naturalists’ must-have guide is a great gift, and made even better with the authors’ personal dedications.

Although with shrinking publicity budgets and rising gas prices, it’s becoming more difficult to attract big name touring authors to venture outside of metro, Wedler has been able to entice an impressive list of literary lions to visit the Valley.

In October, Donna Morrissey gave a reading from What They Wanted and book signing at the MacDonald Museum. This is not the first time this acclaimed author has visited Middleton.

Last month, Bill Richardson introduced a crowd of about 80 fans to the finer points of his newest book, Old Father Williams Well-Ordered Universe.

Among other big names who dropped in over the years to sign the Inside Story`s guest book include: David Suzuki, Dini Petty, Kathy Reichs, Diana Gabaldon, hockey legends Darrell Sitler, Ken Dryden, Eddy Shack; and renowned artist Robert Bateman.