The Dinosaur & Dragon Juice Café by James Anthony Crabb
ABOUT ILLUSTRATING
One of the nicest moments of being a grandparent is reading a story to a seven year old at bedtime.
It is even nicer when it is a children’s story book that you, yourself, have helped to produce.
My initiation into the fairy tale world of children’s reading books, started with my dear friends persuading me, with tales of wealth and grandeur, to use my artistic skills to illustrate a nice little story called ” The Dinosaur and Dragon Juice Café”.
When I first read this story, my reaction was where on earth do I start?
Having retired from fifty years of engineering to have a well earned rest, I now find I am busier than ever, starting a new career, and wondering where all the time has gone!
However, months later of drawing, and redrawing, painting, scanning, printing, modifications, criticisms and frustration I am delighted with the overall result. It is a nice rewarding feeling that hopefully someone, either parents, grandparents and more importantly children somewhere, are enjoying my efforts in creative drawing.
I have sat many times with my young grandson listening to him reading his school books, sometimes skipping through the pages very quickly, because he says he has already read it in class (or he would rather use his Playstation or Wii), other times having a small discussion about the book, regarding the characters, whether exciting or boring.
Looking at the condition of the books,(some looking like they have narrowly escaped the shredder), I often wonder if their days are numbered, but how can you replace imagination? That’s what books are all about and that’s where hopefully my new career carries on.
There are so many beautiful books available these days, it would be a terrible shame to lose them!
What do you think?
Thank you all,
James A Crabb.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I agree with you James, I really hope books never disappear, as you rightly said, a book feeds the imagination and in the case of children’s books being narrated, it is a socialising moment, a chance to giggle and cuddle! Your grandson must be very impatient to see the first print of the Dragon and Dinosaur Juice Café!
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Hello Caroline, thank you for your interesting comment.
Yes my Grandson is eagerly awaiting the book, like myself.
As you say these are special moments, which should be cherished wholeheartedly. Children grow up so fast nowadays and these moments quickly become memories. A teacher friend of mine feels the same, when reading to the children in class, she finds they tend to snuggle up together, gradually creeping closer to her, seemingly, copying being at home.
What can be nicer than that?