Storytelling & book signing features local children's authors
By QUALA MATOCHA lifestyle@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Quala Matocha Kolby Learns To Skate! Dressed for cooler weather just like the character in her book, author and first grade teacher Rachel Ondrias reads about Kolby, the Skating Bear to children visiting the El Campo Museum Saturday morning. This book teaches a lesson through a bear named Kolby. Ondrias and three other authors were on hand to read and sign children's books they wrote themselves. All four have new books being released in the next few months.

Four authors with local ties were on hand to read and sign their books for children Saturday at the El Campo Museum of Natural History.

Ginger Hollis, who has two books out now, is releasing her third book, Rattle Tattle, next month.

"It is about a plain, brown snake that likes to eaves drop on all the animals in the forest and then tattle what he's heard to his only friend, Willard Warts, an old bullfrog," said Janet Johnson, literary agent. "Within the story there are lessons about tattling, friendship and what's really important in life. It has incredibly beautiful illustrations."

Hollis grew up in the El Campo area, graduated from Louise High School and now lives in Navasota with her husband and two children.

Author Rachel Ondrias is a first grade teacher at Myatt Elementary. She has two published books, with two more being released in November.

"Cindy Lou Ella is a fresh re-telling of the fairy tale classic Cinderella, Johnson said. "Cindy Lou Ella is transformed into the Belle-of-the-Ball by her two fairy godmothers, Pearlene and Adele, who just happen to be an opossum and an armadillo. In a whirlwind of stardust, Cindy Lou Ella meets her prince charming, the handsome Joe Billy, the heir to his daddy's successful tractor parts store."

Kolby, the Skating Bear...A Kalamazoo Christmas! is the second book in her series of Kolby stories.

"It is Christmas Eve day in Kalamazoo and Kolby the Skating Bear is lonesome for his family," explains Johnson. "A big snowstorm brings more than just a white Christmas to Kalamazoo! Kolby learns another lesson about friendship from some un-expected guests."

She and her husband and two children live on a farm outside of El Campo.

Ann Ryan, an author and artist, is releasing her second book, Zeke the Zebra, in November.

As a life long resident of Bay City, she lives with her husband on a ranch outside of Midfield where she loves to visit with and entertain her four grown daughters, their husbands, several grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.

"Ryan is an artist and does an incredible job of illustrating her own books," said Johnson.

"Zeke the Zebra is about a young zebra (the zebra that was in her first book "The Little Wannabee,") who is convinced he would be happier if he could just have spots! He finds that in the jungle different isn't always better! It has beautiful illustrations drawn by Ann.

Kaylyn Miska was born and raised in Wharton. She is a fulltime wife, mom of two children, author and artist. They reside in Wharton. Her first book, A Happy Hot Pink Hyena Day, will be released in January 2008.

A Happy Hot Pink Hyena Day is about a little boy that thought life was very boring. T.V. was a bore, skateboarding was a bore. There was nothing to do but sit in the yard, until all of a sudden a purple plane is overhead and out jumps a parachuting hot pink hyena! When the adventurous hyena finds the boy so blue, he shows him that the whole world is full of fun, even in his own backyard.

"This book lets your imagination go wild as they cross the ocean, trek the Amazon and have a cookie parade with other pink hyenas," said Johnson. "It is beautifully illustrated in bold water colors. Kaylyn and Kaylyn's dad, Bill Sherrill of Wharton, worked together to illustrate this book."

As the local Museum hosted the first book signing event for these children's authors, Johnson noted it was a success for several reasons.

"It gave the children a chance to get dressed up in their Halloween costumes, participate in museum activities and hear and interact with four local authors as they read their books to them. It also gave parents, grandparents and great-grandparents a chance to see what incredible things the El Campo Museum has to offer their children. I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday with your children."