“The fact that we are husband and wife for a very… very long time… David actually wrote the book for our grandsons about 12 years ago and then eventually I illustrated and then I did all the layout and design…. And took it to print and it’s published so it’s like it just sort of grew organically.”
Jennie Batemen said another one of her biggest inspirations behind the book was a special book she used to read as a child.
“The encyclopedia… I carried around the encyclopedia along with a dictionary one under each arm… and I would sit for hours on a rock in our front yard… and just read the dictionary and little illustrations in the dictionary… I think that influenced me tremendously.”
David Batemen spoke on what the book is about and how it is not just a learning opportunity only children.
The two little tadpoles turn into frogs and end up finding themselves and what they thought was an uncomfortable place and so i think a lot of things in the book that are kind of door openers for parents or whoever was reading the book to children for them to start conversations about those things.’
The couple is not done with their story writing adventures. Jenni Batemen mentioned new events occurring to help spread the name of the book with local residents.
“Yes! I have three readings already scheduled and then one that I’ll be giving the kids paper and they’re going to illustrate it…”, Jenni Batemen said. “People enjoyed the story…they asked if i was if i would consider writing another one and so I’ve been thinking about it and I think there might be another one after this and we’ll see what the response of being to this one.”
The book was released on Nov. 7 and can be purchased on the Main Gallery 404 website.