For Big Lake couple, Alaska is inspiration

for books

By CASEY RESSLER-Valley Life editor

A husband and wife team from Big Lake recently released their second children's book, and they are hoping for similar results to their first release.

Kyle and Lisa Forbush's "Who is Alaska's Favorite Bear" is a small board book that will be in stores soon. Their first release, "Balto -- The Dog Hero" was released last year and made a huge splash. According to the publisher, Todd Communications, it was the second best selling children's book in Alaska in 2002.

In the children's category, "Balto -- The Dog Hero" was second only to Barbara Lavalee's "Mama, Do You Love Me" board book, which is considered a classic children's book in Alaska.

"Who is Alaska's Favorite Bear," like "Balto," is written by Kyle Forbush and illustrated by Lisa Forbush.

Together, they have formed a successful team with many talents.

"It is like a dream come true," said Lisa Forbush. "Our kids are grown now and we have the time to do it. It's something we both enjoy and have always wanted to do."

Forbush said the couple doesn't have to look much farther than out their window to get ideas.

"Alaska has always been an inspiration," she said. "And it always will be."

The new book details the travels of three bears -- a black bear, a brown bear and a polar bear named, appropriately, Licorice, Chocolate and Vanilla. Each one of the bears claims to be the favorite bear of Alaskans, but it takes the advice and knowledge from a bald eagle to settle the argument.

The eagle points out the values of each bear, and shows why each quality is important.

According to publisher Todd Communications, "the board book in fable form teaches children that differences in color, size and location do not make one either greater or less valuable than another."

The couple is hoping the new book does as well as "Balto" did, and success isn't always measured in the number of books sold.

"I consider it the ultimate compliment when someone tells me that their child or grandchild asks for the book for their bedtime story, or that they always want their parents to read the book to them," Forbush said. "That's the biggest thing for me."

Together, they are working on an Alaska wildlife coloring books, which should be out in the next three months, Forbush said.

They want to continue putting out children's' books in the future, too.

"My husband comes up with the ideas and basically writes the storyline in his head. After he gets it on paper, I start painting and drawing and it all comes together," Forbush said.

"It is something we definitely enjoy doing and want to keep doing."