Raising readers

92-year-old Palmer woman's book a hit

March 19, 2006

DAWN DE BUSK/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - When the group responsible for distributing books, blankets and lists of reading tips to the parents of newborns lost its two-year supply of books following a 2002 fire, a brainstorming session ensued.

Volunteers with Mat-Su Association for Family and Community Education knew children wouldn't stop being born in the Valley - at the rate of about 60 a month - while they came up with a solution, according to Barbara Thomas, who helps coordinate the Mat-Su Raise-A-Reader program through FCE.

The few books that survived the fire at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service building where the reading materials were stored in the fall of 2002 smelled like smoke and were unsuitable for children, according to Thomas. In addition, Little Golden Books company had raised its prices, and the nonprofit couldn't afford to buy more, she said.

Longtime Alaskan and artist Kay Love, who had designed the logo for the Raise-A-Reader program, suggested the nonprofit group write its own book. Some time passed, and Thomas told Love it might be a good idea if she created a book based on her logo.

&#8220Before we knew it, Kay had written a delightful book,” Thomas said.

From the time it rolled off the press in February 2005 through last month, nurses and midwives have handed out approximately 675 copies of &#8220Mama Bear the Reader” to tiny Valley newcomers, according to Thomas.

Small hands can appreciate the 4-inch square book. Colorful illustrations introduce babies to realistic paintings of Alaska's wild animals. The rhyming words lure the little listener.

Although the logo - depicting animals surrounding a bear that is reading a book - was the springboard for the project, a poem written by Love began the labor of love.

&#8220It was kind of a rush job,” Love laughed.

She was 90 years old when she took on the task of writing and illustrating &#8220Mama Bear The Reader.” She certainly wasn't going into unfamiliar territory: Love studied at the Art Student's League of New York City, and received more training in her discipline at the Burnley School of Seattle. She worked as an illustrator for U.S. Public Health Service in Alaska. However, Love said she had never written a book before, just letters to people.

&#8220It began with the poem. Then, it took three months to draw all the illustrations,” she said.

During that time, Love volunteered her artistic talents for several organizations and visited her sister who was hospitalized with cancer. Love said her sister had a chance to see the completed book before she died.

In addition to her active schedule, Love said it seemed like every time she got her painting tools set up in her spare room, someone would stop by for an overnight visit and she would have to put away her art work.

&#8220I had to research the animals. The birds took longer than anybody, than any of the animals. Now, does a robin have a black bill or a yellow bill? What shape is the end of the wings? How are their wings formed when they fly? How does a weasel sit? How many whiskers does he have?” she said.

As the book began to take shape, Thomas sought the advice of authors Bernd and Susan Richter, who supported the program with donations of their children's books to the Alaska FCE after the fire. FCE had hooked up with the Richters at an annual Book Bonanza for Alaska authors and found them to be inspirational and helpful, Thomas said.

&#8220(Some of) our books put emphasis on babies. The books are interactive with touch and feel pages, or lift the flap. We have a book that has sound bites. We are trying to have interesting, interactive books so children feel that excitement about books at an early age,” Bernd Richter said.

Kara Wilson, who is expecting to give birth to her third child sometime this week at Mat-Su Midwifery - where Raise-A-Reader packets are distributed to newborns, understands how delighted children can get about books.

Her daughter Emma, 2, &#8220was obsessed with books that had different textures. She makes us read ‘Barn Yarn Dance' before every nap and bedtime. She keeps it in her bed with her,” Wilson said. She added both her daughter and her son, Elijah, 3, get a kick out of lifting the flaps to reveal the animals in &#8220Peek-A-Boo Alaska,” a book written by the Richters.

Two-year-old Wasilla resident Kaden Patrick Hartman has a 1-week-old sister, Haila Lynn McMullen, with whom to share reading time.

&#8220He's been read to since he was born, and he really likes books,” grandmother Tracy Neves said.

Kaden's mom, Jessica Hartman, added that his books about monster trucks and tractors are among his favorites.

&#8220I want tractors,” Kaden said, tugging on his mom's pant leg.

Richter stressed the importance of giving very young children the opportunity to get revved up about reading - well before they start school.

&#8220We are very interested in writing books for the toddler ages. That's why we were so supportive of Raise-A-Reader program,” he said.

Contact Dawn De Busk at 352-2252 or dawn.debusk@frontiersman.com.