On Saturday, April 1, at 2 p.m., former Moore County teacher Jan Lee Wicker presents “Those Funny Flamingos,” her new book about those big, pink birds that stand on one leg and eat upside down. Wicker, who was born in Goldsboro and graduated from Appalachian State University, has taught pre-school through first grade for 23 years, including seven and one-half years at Aberdeen Elementary School before leaving to raise her family.
When she returned to teaching 15 years later, she decided to introduce twin mascots, Fred and Fran, Flamingo Beanie Babies, to her kindergarten students in Weldon, where she has taught for the last six years. She decided to learn all about flamingos and incorporate them into her daily lessons.
Wicker, who had taken a correspondence course in children’s literature, turned her new knowledge into a book and submitted it to a publisher located in Sarasota, Fla.
“If they wouldn’t publish it,” said Ms. Wicker, “no one would.”
Pineapple Press was founded in 1982 to publish nonfiction books that educate and entertain while they make the real Florida accessible to readers nationwide. It was a perfect match.
To illustrate the book, Wicker and her husband, Chris, took the photos of flamingos on a family trip to Florida; but there were still some birds or situations they couldn’t capture. So Steve Weaver was brought in to do additional illustrations for the book.
“I’ve never met Steve, but his drawings make the book,” says Wicker. “When I read it, the children laugh and laugh because his pictures are so funny.”
Pineapple Press has asked Wicker to write several other books for their popular “Those” series. She has already completed “Those Excellent Eagles,” which will be published later in April, and she will be writing the books about manatees and dolphins.
Will she change the name of her Website from www.pinkflamingolady.com once her other animal books are published?
“No. They’ve won my heart,” she says. “I’ll always be the Pink Flamingo Lady.”
At the American Girl Mystery Event on Sunday, April 2, at 2 p.m., girls ages 5 and up and their dolls will enjoy activities, games, skits and selected readings from eight new historical mystery books.
“The response has been overwhelming,” says Angie Tally, one of the event hosts, “We have just a few places left.”
Story Time at The Country Bookshop begins on Thursday, April 6, at 9:30 a.m., for children birth to 5 and their caregivers. Each session will feature a theme, starting with sheep stories, and the book, “Russell the Sheep,” by Rob Scotton, about a wide-awake sheep. Children who come to the first session will have the chance to name the Story Time Sheep, the puppet host of the series.
On Thursday, April 27, “Lovie” stories will feature the 2005 Caldecott Honor book, “Knuffle Bunny,” by Mo Willems. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite comforting toy with them. Story Time on May 4 will feature “Cow Stories,” followed by “Frogs and Ducks” on May 18 and June 1.
To reserve a copy of “Those Funny Flamingos,” or for more information about Story Time, call The Country Bookshop at 910-692-3211.
