Winner of the GOLD! "Moonbeam Book Awards" for Best Illustrator
Winner of the Gold! Dragonpencil Book Award for Superior Illustration
Winner of 'National Best Books 2008 Awards " sponsored by USA Book News for "Children's Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction w/ Audio CD"
WINNER of the Bronze IPPY, Children's picture book, all ages
Finalist for
Foreword Magazine's, "Children's Picture Book , Winners to be announced May
29th'
Winner of the Silver "Benjamin Franklin" Book Award, Winner announced May 28th 2009
Order Online, visit us at an upcoming show, Or at address below
Order address:
Jeri Landers /391 Joppa Mt. Rd. / Rutledge, Tn. 37861
Phone # 865 828 8280
"Heartland Reviews"
Chief Reviewer: Bob Spears
"Jeri Landers is my favorite children’s picture book writer/illustrator. Her artwork is incredibly beautiful and complex, reminiscent of Beatrix Potter’s books. This is her second book project (each one takes her about two years). In addition to the book, she has included a CD of her reading it aloud, giving the characters their own voices.
The story is about a young squirrel who is blown out of his tree by a storm wind and sent over the forest to land a great distance away. On his way to return to his home, he is helped by friendly animals of the forest and threatened by others. It is a highly entertaining project with hours of togetherness fun for parents and children. We rated it a high five hearts."
The idea for my new book was born when my son Dylan brought a baby squirrrel into our home. We had been experiencing wild windstorms for a few days and apparently the gusts had blown an entire squirrel family from their nest. The other family members weren't so fortunate as this little fellow, whom I named Bushky Bushybottom.
At first I knew nothing about raising an orphan squirrel, but was soon an expert in squirrely nutrition.....feeding him a yummy, milky mixture every four hours through a syringe. To my delight he devoured this most avidly, eventually graduating to baby cereal, peanuts and corn. He really loved cherrios! ( just like me) Suffice it to say, Mr. Bushybottom grew heartily for several weeks until he decided that the open road was the life for him and chewed his way ( literally) out of the house and into the wide, wide world! This little fellow was the inspiration for my story, which of course, takes place in Hopalong Hollow.
We took many photographs of Bushky during his brief stay, and I wrote my story with this fine little fellow as the main character who just happens to be....lost. The picture on left is baby Bushky ...then a few weeks later.....
My process for doing the illustrations is as follows: After many rough sketches I create very detailed pencil drawings directly onto my watercolor paper. Since my books have 36 pages, endpaper art and, of course, an illustrated book cover, this can take up to 1 year. When all the drawings are complete I go back to each drawing and paint with watercolor directly upon my pencil work. The drawings you see above are portions of illustrations. This is a very time-consuming process ( about 2 years in all). I think it is worth the time spent. Since I love to fill every single space of my paper with art, I must remind myself to Leave Room for the Words!
A few new characters living in and around Hopalong Hollow ...... This is Trudy Webbytoes. As you can see, she is a fine artist.
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One of my models..... Trudy Webbytoes. |
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Hector and Louie run the Ferry service. If you need a ride across the pond, the cost is 2 crickets and 1 worm.
Tottytoes, Tattletail and Bushky
"Suddenly he was deposited upon the ground with a THUD!"
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"Oh my, what have we here? A wee babe! And why is a bonnie little lad out in the dark of night by his wee self? Ah... the poor young thing."
Included in the book will be an audio cd. The story is so much fun to read, that I just had to read it to you!
"Sir Percival licked his chops as he watched the fat, round hens pecking their way towards the barn."
"Climb the steps of the tree that go up high,,, to the squirrely house in the leafy sky."
Some interesting things to look for in this book:
There are over 100 "hidden" woodcarvings
to find. 
Hopalong Jack appears 10 times in this book, can you find him?
There is a little
honey bee on each full page..... he is important to the story. On some pages,
you really have to look for him! 
Bushky is lost.... but do not despair, there is always a little search party out looking for him!
On the double page inside the barn is a hidden bit of trivia concerning a beloved author and illustrator. There are 5 clues.. See if you can figure it out in your book!
This is a fun book!
I will soon be starting the illustrations for Book 3 in the Hopalong Hollow series, I will be adding a new webpage specifically devoted to sharing with you, the reader, my progress. I will show you drawings and paintings in the process of being created.
