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02/26/2020 08:40 AMChildren’s illustrator and author Jane Dyer, who has worked on more than 50 books over the course of a storied career including several New York Times bestsellers, is coming to Guilford on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 11 a.m. for a unique, interactive event at Breakwater Books as she walks young readers through her newest, Roly Poly.
Liza Fixx, the former owner of Breakwater who continues to work at the store, said she expects Dyer to bring in her story’s stars—wool polar bears made through a special process called needle felting—and show young attendees how they were made.
“This is a very different technique for her. This is not her usual. But it’s pretty cool, a very cool concept,” Fixx said.
A resident of Massachusettes, Dyer’s most popular books include Time for Bed, an animal bedtime story and another collaboration with Roly Poly’s author, Mem Fox, as well as Cookies: Bite Sized Life Lessons. Her deeply colorful, detailed drawings are often recognized by parents and children across generations, Fixx said, and were always popular with Fixx’s own children.
Roly Poly is also a collaboration with Jeanne Birdsall, author of the Newberry-award winning series The Penderwicks, according to Fixx. Birdsall helped photograph the bears and set up the story, she said, while Fox wrote the text.
Fixx said that Roly Poly, the story of a baby bear who learns to accommodate a new sibling, is most appropriate for readers aged 3 to 7.
In a strange coincidence, Fixx actually babysat for Dyer’s daughters many years ago, when Fixx was working as a student-teacher and Dyer was close to the beginning of her career.
“I was very aware of her as...just an incredible illustrator...In fact, many of her illustrations feature her girls when they were little. So I knew of her and then I had that experience, and just kind of followed her,” Fixx said.
Dyer also has a family member living in Guilford, Fixx said, who helped facilitate the event.
Fixx said she has reached out to all the local schools and pre-schools as well to promote the event, which she expects to be well-attended.
“People who know books know” Dyer, she said.
The more hands-on, crafty element of Dyer’s reading is something Fixx said she and Breakwater’s owners, Richard Parent and Paul Listro, want to continue. After recently reinstating a regular “story-time” event for younger readers at Breakwater, Fixx said has been approached by people hoping to combine reading and other activities.
Fixx said Listro and Parent are also going to be expanding their reach in the realm of local authors, both in terms of what books they carry and in events like this one.
“We’re always interested in local authors. I think that’s a good niche for us. I think our community looks for that, for sure,” she said.
Those interested in Dyer’s event are asked to register for free by calling Breakwater at 203-453-4141 or emailing breakwaterbks@gmail.com.