Book Signing with Wendell Minor

The Hickory Stick Bookshop welcomes back bestselling illustrator and local friend Wendell Minor who will be signing copies of his latest two books “The Great Zombie Pumpkin Parade” and “Ice Bears at Ice Edge” on Saturday, October 21st at 3 pm. Both books are written by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Minor. After more than a half-century as one of America’s foremost illustrators, Minor was recently inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.

This event is free and open to the public. If you are unable to attend this event, you may reserve a signed copies of Wendell’s books by calling The Hickory Stick Bookshop at (860) 868 0525, or shop our website 24/7 at www.hickorystickbookshop.com.

ABOUT THE BOOKS
“The Great Zombie Pumpkin Parade” is a lively, rhythmic Halloween read aloud that follows a group of zombie pumpkins as they celebrate the season. It’s Halloween and the Zombie Pumpkin Parade is drawing near. Join Zipper-Toothed Zlumpkin, Drizzle-Mouthed Dumpkin, and the rest of their ghostly crew as the spooky-silly zombie pumpkins dance through the darkness, in celebration of the most bewitching night of the year! With jaunty, rhyming verse and atmospheric watercolor paintings, this seasonal offering is just spooky enough to delight young children as well as just funny enough to send them into giggles.

“Ice Bears At Ice Edge” is a gripping climate change-themed tale of a polar bear family fighting to survive. A mother polar bear and her cub are busy searching for food, when suddenly, the ice they stand on breaks away– crack! Cut adrift, her cub is out of reach as the treacherous sea begins to carry him away. In she dives! Can they return to land safely? Simply told yet dramatic, and with realistic, exquisite illustrations and informative back matter with facts about polar bears, “Ice Bears at Ice Edge” immerses readers in one animal family’s story, while also highlighting the broader plight of endangered wildlife whose habitats are threatened by climate change.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Wendell Minor has created over sixty award-winning children’s books. Among his collaborators are Robert, Burleigh, Jean Craighead George, Buzz Aldrin, Mary Higgins Clark, and last but not least, his wife Florence. Wendell and Florence’s “If You Were a Penguin”, was chosen by Pennsylvania for its “One Book, Every Young Child” early literacy program, and Wendell’s books have been featured on the PBS-TV program “The Reading Rainbow.”
Wendell is also the cover artist and designer of over two thousand books for authors Pat Conroy, David McCullough, Fannie Flagg, and Nathaniel Philbrick among many others. His portrait of “Truman” by David McCullough is in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.

Among the many awards Wendell’s books have garnered are: Cook Prize (best science, technology, engineering and math picture book for children), Notable Children’s Trade Books in Social Studies, International Reading Association Teacher’s Choices, Smithsonian’s Notable Books for Children, and John Burroughs List of Nature Books for Young Readers.

Wendell’s paintings have been exhibited widely throughout the country. The Norman Rockwell Museum hosted an exhibition of 25 years of his children’s book art, Wendell Minor’s America in 2013-2014 and a book featuring the art is available at the Museum’s gift shop. In 1988 Wendell was invited by NASA to join a team documenting the shuttle Discovery’s return to flight. He has also created paintings for the U.S. Postal Service.

Wendell has received Honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters from Aurora University in Illinois and the University of Connecticut, and lectures at schools and universities across the country.

He lives with his wife, Florence, in Connecticut. Visit him at minorart.com.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOKS
“Just scary enough to please those looking for a mild fright…. Burleigh brings out the silly side of the undead with rhymes… Minor’s watercolor and gouache illustrations, which feature an emojilike range of zombie expressions, soften the spooky couplets…. A natural fit for Halloween-themed read alouds and activities.”– School Library Journal

“Gorgeous spreads of color…The text is lyrical and moving. The polar bears’ fight for survival is dramatic and touching, and indirectly highlights with the impact of the climate change on wildlife.” — School Library Journal