Win a first edition copy of Mamsey Bear and Mopkin..

When the books arrive on Dec 18th, I will draw 3 names for a First Edition copy of the new book. (If you have already pre-ordered, and your name is chosen, you will be reimbursed).

 (This is the back of the jacket)

  Fed Ex brought a package this week. It was nerve wracking, I asked James to open the box while I snapped away with the camera to preserve "the moment".

He peeled away the brown paper and there they were, 5 carefully stacked books.
My precious little pile of advance copies.I have been chronicling the creation of this book for 2 years on this blog and my website, so this was a special moment for us.

 I was seriously  D E L I G H T E D at the jackets.. would the interiors be just as good??! With trepidation I open the book to peek inside....and Hallelujah! I love it, I love it! Thank you Printers!  Thank you Dan the layout man! Thank you dear husband and support system! Thank you God!

Welcome Book 3 in the Hopalong Hollow Set.

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       There is just something about a freshly printed book. Turning the pages for the 1st time, the colors envelop me with the warm rusts and ochre of Autumn and I can still smell the ink that created all those colors on the thick, smooth paper. I lovingly run my hand over the surface of each page and count the perfect nine stitches down the center of the page in this smythe sewn copy, studying each illustration to see that the art meets perfectly in the middle of the seam. Is the text clearly visible throughout the book and easy to read? Yes, it is; white text on dark backgrounds and black text on pale backgrounds. Is the embossing perfectly lined up to enhance the little bird "carvings" on the book jacket? Yes, and it feels lovely as I run my finger over the delicate indentations.  Somehow, even the illustrations seem fresher and more vibrant than ever before. I quietly read my story for the hundredth time, but this time is different, for now, I am not reading from my messy sketch book, or my neatly typed manuscript, I am reading it FROM MY BOOK.

  It is a wonderful thing to behold the artwork which spent so much time in  a satchel, having  been reborn as a new entity in the pages of a book. I am quite certain that all authors and illustrators must feel this quiet and sweet satisfaction when they hold in their hands the final result of much love and labor; ones own book.

I immediately wrote a special message on a pure white page in one of these 5 precious copies, to send to my mother in Colorado. After all, she is the epitome of what this story is all about. She will be the first person ( besides James and me) to read this book.

 Now I am  pleased to offer my new book 
"Mamsey Bear and Mopkin"
 to those of you who wish to pre-order.

     We expect the bulk shipment to arrive here on December 18th. At this moment, the books are on a freighter from

Hong Kong and heading for port in Seattle, Wash. then on to Chicago and finally, here, in Tennessee. There are 3000 copies in this run and it is my tradition to number the first 50 books in the first edition. . So if you want a numbered copy order soon  !(Update 11/15, those first 50 numbered books are now taken)

 If you were to see my book in the book store, you would be able to flip through the pages, but since this IS my bookstore for now, imagine you are at Market Day in the Hollow, browsing the books in Milliken Butterfields caravan book shop.

Here you are offered a nice glimpse of Mamsey Bear's world. It is a world of nature,
rich illustrative detail, a mother's love, and hundreds of tiny stitches.

For a synopsis of the story and
for ordering information follow this link to my website:
http://www.jerilanders.com/Mamsey%20Purchase%20Page.htm
. Some of you have already emailed me about ordering and your names have been noted in my little "order book". Thank you! I will also be taking book orders at the
art shows seen on my show schedule.

 I guess you could say this is my virtual "Book Launch". I hope those of you whom I have met at shows, those who have enjoyed my other books and my lovely blogger friends, will join me in celebrating my third book in the Hopalong Hollow Series. Thank you for following along on this journey. All of you have been wonderful companions. Don't forget to leave a message if you wish to be entered in the drawing!
Now I will spend the next several months promoting and selling this book before I begin work on book 4... a tale about a Moose. 

 Jeri's email: jeri@hopalonggreetings.com

Who says you can't judge a book by it's cover??

      Being an illustrator and  a collector of storybooks, I make it a point to study the book covers of my favorites. I believe the most important piece of illustration for any type of book is the Jacket, but this is especially true for a Storybook.What makes for a great book cover?  It not only requires artistic talent but a real sense of design. I scrutinize the books in my vast collection of nearly 300 storybooks, many dating from the early 1900's, in an effort to discover what exactly it is that makes these book covers wonderful.

  The book covers below all have that special something that makes you want to delve into the the book and discover what delightful treasures await.

The artists from top to right are: Laurel Long, Maggie Kneen, Jill Barklem, Valerie Greeley and Cecily Mary Barker
In my opinion a successful book jacket must accomplish the following feat:
Capture the viewers attention and entice them to come in, explore further, read on.

 Valerie Greeley is  an artist who's gorgeous  book cover ' The Acorns Story, (ABOVE) is a 'preview of coming attractions'. as well as a pictorial  reflection of the Books title.As you enter the world of this book, you  are not disappointed, as it is filled with rich and sumptuous paintings, such as the page below.. Lush and lovely illustrations on every page, just what I want to see!

Smashing!
http://acornmoon.blogspot.com/ 
THIS is what I believe: The artwork in a story book should be marvelous. There are many STYLES of marvelous, from the sweet simplicity of   E.H. Shepard's. "Winnie the Pooh" to the lavish extravagance of Lynn Bywaters. I realize it is a matter of taste.
    I tend to love  detailed and superabundant illustrations in a book.
 One of my favorite set of books is the Brambley Hedge series by Artist Jill Barklem.
 Her book Jackets are always perfect, and a wonderful indication of the happiness that awaits when you "step inside".

 You simply cannot believe the remarkable abundance of teeny tiny detail in every painting, made especially extraordinary seeing as her pages are only 6 inches wide and 7 inches tall!

http://www.bramblyhedge.co.uk/

I believe the artwork in a book should capture the imagination and set it ablaze with wonder!

 Do you remember the books of your early childhood? I remember the entrancing pictures in the few books we had, and would spend hours pouring over each one. It didn't matter that I could not yet read, I didn't need to, the artist provided me with a bounty of images set upon the paper in an atmosphere of wondrous colors and  visual treats. We often talk about the "gift of reading", and reading IS  a gift, as the written word is so precious, but I wish more emphasis would be put upon the artistic content of a book. Storybooks are a child's first introduction to art, AND Storybooks are NOT just for kids. Why not make a point of  sharing  with your little ones, rich and beautiful illustrations that are timeless? There are SO many beautiful books. Unfortunately, we are also bombarded by books with unattractive, unimaginative pictures and told by book reviewers, critics and the Caldecott committee that their choices are "Superior Illustration" . POOH ON THAT!  If you do not believe me, go to Amazon and look at SOME of the recent winners of the Caldecott Award, it is a disgrace and an indication of the "dumbing down" of our society.  Just as Picasso's "modern art" was foisted upon the public as so-called genius, so it is, sometimes,  with Children's book art. Sorry for the rant, but this is a real pet peeve of mine, as a collector of beautiful illustration AND as an  artist. I protest mediocre art winning major Illustration Awards!  
Especially when there are glorious books like these below...

 The artists for these book are: Michael Hague, Helen Ward, Tim Haglin,  Jamichael Henterly, Maurice Sendak ( who actually has won a Caldecott) and Kit Williams.
I vote we return to the Golden Age of Book Illustration. 
And so, in ending, I just want to thank all the artists that take the time to create the most interesting , fun and joyful illustration for generations to enjoy. These are the books that stand the test of time.
(Excluding Dr Seuss, who's books have been around a very long time. But I have a confession to make, even as a kid, I thought the pictures were "very odd".)
 Now, tell me, what do you look for when searching out a Story book?