Jan Brett in Chico

So cool!  Beloved children's book author and fantastic illustrator, Jan Brett, was in Chico today.  She stopped at our local Barnes & Noble while on a book tour promoting  her newest work, THE THREE SNOW BEARS.  Of course, we bought a copy for ourselves, not just to support and remember this special event, but because, obviously, bears are a special love and interest of mine!

Jan gave a brief presentation, which was hugely attended.  She really catered to the kids in her talk and was incredibly encouraging to all the little artists in her audience, most of whom can't even begin to imagine themselves illustrators someday.  She even drew a baby bear as part of her talk!

After that, the large crowd that had assembled to meet this talented lady waited up to two hours, and then some (me included) for an autographed copy of her newest work.  You could also bring other Jan Brett books for signing to the event.  And we did that, toting our tattered and well-loved copy of THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, which Jan illustrated.  Every Christmas Eve, for as many years as I can remember, my two sons and I snug together under a cozy, warm comforter to read Jan's version of this classic Christmas tale as the very last thing we do before lights out.  It's always been the most wonderful way to come together in love as a family, full of hopes and dreams, and prepare for Santa's arrival, and the excitement of Christmas morn.  Even now, the boys look forward to sharing this... each and every year.

My kids have practically been raised on Jan Brett's books.  Like so many other kids in America, they've read THE MITTEN and THE HAT many times.  When they were very young, and we had a new calico kitten, they chose the name COMET, I'm sure heavily influenced by our many readings of COMET'S NINE LIVES... at that time, a favorite.

Jan Brett is a true celebrity author, and is touring in a specially outfitted custom bus which not only advertises her new book, but the virtues and reward -- and gifts -- of reading.  Here are Toby and Noah, standing in front of it.

And here's Noah, who has always loved mascots! (just as much as Toby loathes them), with one of Jan's best-loved and most ubiquitous characters, Hedgie, inside B&N.

This was my first book signing ever, and Jan was such a gracious and lovely person.  I really couldn't have had a better experience.  We even brought home huge, free buttons and bookplates, and special "THE THREE SNOW BEARS" supplements.  So fun!

Comments

[Veronica]

Those pics of the bears look so much like some little resin Christmas bears (Polar Kins was the name) that I used to collect ..from Enesco.. but they were discontinued. I love them ...love to display them each festive season... but can't get the rest of the collection now, of course. I wonder if she was the artist for the original conception. The look on the faces is priceless....