NEWS ARTICLES
Jacksonville Times Union 1/18/09
Children met 'Pelican Pete' series, learned about nature
Several Mandarin residents got a close-up look at a good book Monday. They also got a good listen as the author, Frances Keiser, and illustrator, Hugh Keiser, creators of the Pelican Pete series, visited Fruit Cove Preschool for an interactive program.
The Keisers, who live on a barrier island in St. Augustine, created the books for their eight grandchildren and were thrilled to share them to help kids of all ages connect with nature.
"Every book contains a message of something people can do to help nature," Frances said.
The Keisers, who founded Sagaponack Books in 1999 as an independent publisher committed to environmental education, have visited scores of schools, libraries and organizations to promote science through literature and tips on how to benefit wildlife.
In their short "retirement" career, the Keisers have earned the Learning Magazine Teachers Choice Award and Parenting Media Award. The Pelican Pete series was also accepted in the Accelerated Reader program and has been included in the International Reading Association and Children's Book Counsel.
"I thought their program was great," said teacher Virginia Grayson of Mandarin, after her students learned that though pelicans have one of the largest wing spans of any bird, they have hollow bones and weigh only about nine pounds.
Teacher Sylvia Schmucker of Mandarin said she thought her students especially enjoyed handling treasures Frances brought from the beach near her home. These items included horseshoe crabs, sand dollars, mermaid's purses (egg pouches from a scape), driftwood, turtle bones, sea beans, coquina and sea worm skins.
"Kids love getting their hands on things," Schmucker said. "It brought the story to life."
Jacksonville Times Union 9/29/2008
Reading kee
ps you active; here's proof
By Brandy Hilboldt Allport, The Times-Union
Fall reading shifted into high gear throughout the First Coast this week. Check out this list of happenings so you can make plans with the book lover at your house. Don't have a book lover? Develop one by participating in some of these events. Meeting authors, hearing about local history and critiquing a book show youngsters that reading does not have to be "a sit down, be quiet, don't wriggle event." Talking about titles, discovering new ones and mingling with other enthusiasts are among the many joys of reading.
The Bookmark turned 18 years old. To celebrate its coming of "legal age," and to showcase a recent remodeling project, owners and staffers at the store will host an all-day party Saturday, Oct. 11. Browse at a sidewalk sale, have a snack, stock up on some free book-related goodies and hear authors talk about their work. The Bookmark is at 299 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach. Call (904) 241-9026. Here is the schedule for the reading and signings.
11 a.m. Frances and Hugh Keiser, author and illustrator of the award-winning Pelican Pete series of children's picture books from Sagaponack.
3 p.m. Mark Lane, author of Sandspurs: Notes from a Coastal Columnist (University Press of Florida). A Florida journalist, Lane's collection of essays covers everything from gardening to state politics.
7 p.m. Ad Hudler, author of Man of the House (Ballantine Books). In an autobiographical inspired novel, protagonist Linc Menner abandons some of his duties as family cook and chauffeur to tackle home renovation.
Jacksonville Times Union 7/20/08
Book Marks By The Times-Union
Learn about writing: Three award-winning independent author-publishers will discuss how options in the book industry have changed. The free event is at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Ponte Vedra Beach Library, 101 Library Blvd. Jeannine Auth, (Emmy's Question, Morningtide Press) Frances Keiser, (Pelican Pete series, Sagaponack Books) and Jewell Kutzer (Memories of Mayberry, Dynamic Living Press) have each taken a non-traditional route to get their books in print. They will talk about various publishing options in their presentation, "Look Before You Leap! What You Don't Know Can Hurt You." Call (904) 285-2258.
Palatka Daily News 6/18/08
Nature Connection by Jennifer Thomas, Daily News Correspondent (download a full copy here)
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