Book teaches lessons about feelings and safety rules for children

PALMER — Two local women have collaborated to write and illustrate a new book called “All Mine.”

Author Sally Jorgens said it took about three weeks total for her to write the words, for Shirley Kyar Whitmer to do the illustrations and for Publication Consultants in Anchorage to assemble and print the children’s book.

“We’re trying to reach as many kids as possible,” Jorgens said.

The colorful, smiling bunnies on the book’s cover give no hint of its serious contents. Inside, the pages and kid-friendly illustrations provide a tool for parents to use with very young children when teaching them about feelings and safety rules.

“Stranger danger doesn’t cover everything,” Jorgens said.

During her research prior to writing the book, she said she was horrified to learn that Alaska is No. 1 in the nation for child abuse cases.

“I know this type of stuff has affected nearly every household in Alaska,” Jorgens said. “Here in our Valley, one child a day goes to the Children’s Place or the hospital for a sexual abuse exam.”

The two Palmer women said the book is their effort to reverse these grisly statistics by helping parents teach their children steps they can take to stay safe.

“We encourage people to take a minute and read these kinds of things to your kids, grandkids — any kids,” Whitmer said.

Neither woman had experience with book publishing before this effort, they said. But after meeting at church, the two decided to work together to create “All Mine.”

For Whitmer, she said the illustrations in the book aren’t the type of art she usually creates. Usually, Whitmer said she paints Alaska scenes and wildlife like bear and moose in acrylics.

“That’s the kind of stuff I usually do, not little bunnies,” she said.

In “All Mine,” she said she drew the characters and then colored them with markers and colored pencils.

“I always wanted to draw and paint, but I never had time until I retired,” Whitmer said.

Jorgens said she has written two more books on the same topic, but for older children.

“I’m really deeply offended that society has let this go on to this point,” she said.

Making Alaska a safe place — safe from sexual predators — to raise children will take all of us, the two women said.

“No one wants their child to go through this,” Jorgens said. “If we all do a little bit, we can turn this around.”

The books are for sale in Palmer at Silvertip Signs and Fireside Books and in Wasilla at Learning Essentials and Beauty for Ashes.

A book signing is planned at Fireside Books from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Oct. 15.

For more information, contact allminebook@hotmail.com.

Contact Heather A. Resz at heather.resz@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.