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by Wendy Edelson

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The Baker’s Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale

Told by Aaron Shepherd; pictures by Wendy Edelson

 

Have you ever been in a bakery and received “a baker’s dozen?” It’s one more than twelve. I haven’t received that number in quite a while, so I may just bring this book with me to the proprietor for a read!

But, have you ever wondered about the origin of the term, baker’s dozen?

Well, if you have, as St. Nicholas Day approaches on December 6th, you and your young reader are in for a tasty treat of a picture book read, plus a lesson in “giving more than you get”, via this picture book tale of colonial times, told by Aaron Shepherd, with richly detailed paintings in sumptuous colors, provided by way of Wendy Edelson.

This is a book that cries out for a lap and a read aloud with a child on a quiet afternoon or evening in December. And its reviewers felt the same way, as evidenced by just one that I picked:

 

 

 

       A lush new version of a traditional

       tale….Well chosen words and nicely

       paced text that begs to be told aloud.

       A treat for the holiday season.

 

School Library Journal

 

 

 

The story is recounted of the successful Albany baker named Van Amsterdam who has a booming bakery business. And especially on December 6th, his store is awash in baked cookies shaped and iced as replicas of the red and white robed St. Nicholas. They’re fairly flying out his bakery door that day.

Enter an elderly, shawled woman asking for a dozen of the cookies. But, when Van Amsterdam immediately packs up the exact number count, her response is, to say the least, not run of the mill, as she asks for thirteen! And as he declines, it does not bode well for the successful baker, as the woman intones:

 

       “Van Amsterdam! However honest

you may be, your heart is small and

your fist is tight. Fall again, mount        

again, learn how to count again!”

 

 

“The Baker’s Dozen” perfectly portrays this Old World baker, seemingly a success, yet on the cusp of a learning curve that comes at a cost.

Will his success continue unabated? Will he learn to give a bit more than is asked? It’s a terrific lesson in generosity that young readers will ask for again and again, come holiday time. And the art work is stunning in its rich tapestry-like hues. I have not seen Wendy Edelson’s work before, but she achieves perfection as she elucidates Mr. Shepherd’s text with charm and cheeriness.

I know one thing. If an apple cheeked woman with a shawl wrapped about her, asks me for a dozen apples at the farm stand, you can bet the farm, that I will gladly give her an extra one.

And no questions asked!

For who knows when St. Nicholas may visit us in some disguise to monitor how generous we are?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My most recently illustrated book (September 2014 ) "The Best of the Part of the Day", written by Sarah Ban Breathnach,  is divided into the four seasons...here is an image from, of course, Autumn!

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4 Stars Pobble’s Way Simon Van Booy Wendy Edelson 32 Pages   Ages: 4 to 8 Inside Jacket: Pobble’s evening walk with Daddy is a magical adventure in which branches wear sleeves of snow and mushrooms become frog umbrellas. When Pobble’s mitten—small and pink and as soft as a bunny’s chin—is lost on the path, woodland animals gather to discuss [...]

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These are three of four panels, Mammals, Reptiles, Birds, Insects,  created, again, for the Woodland Park Zoo.  I can't find the birds and I have to run out the door.... oops. They were going to be used to commemorate the acquisition of an African White Rhino ( on mammal panel )....and be the four sides of a metal bank to be sold in the gift shop...but the Rhino never came...and the bank was never made. The art remains anyway.....

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This is a large piece I created for the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Originally I wanted to create a piece, a sort of "homage" to Fanny, ( in pool, right center ) a wonderful, large brown bear who had lived nearly her entire life in a cement enclosure, walking back and forth, most of the time. The Zoo completed a large Alaskan Habitat  with grass and trees and deep pools filled with fish and otters and for the first time Fanny could feel the earth under her massive paws. For several months she still walked back and forth, until she realized she needn't any longer. I loved that this happened and offered to donate a piece of art to the Zoo which turned into a poster for an International Zoo Conference hosted by the Zoo with all the scanning and printing and paper donated and then became a large enameled sign  which is still at one of the entrances.

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Initial thumbnail sketch of a bulldog for "B is for Bulldog"

Final approved drawing of bulldog, scanned and printed out on Arches 140 lb Hot Press in a sort of sepia color

Bulldog halfway finished & really scary messy watercolor palette!

Finished watercolor of bulldog for new, upcoming ABC of Dogs book, Fall 2011

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Two Bunnies

1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10 bunnies and Momma Bunny

 These are images for a large licensing project in progress, a soft counting book/ fabric collection of Springtime Woodland Bunnies.
Spring will come!

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SOLD

2 - ACEO sized pieces (so, altogether its 2.5 x 7)
Polychromos on bristol board

Bloody ants, I swear. I also knitted an homage to them, and blathered on about my traumatic experience here.

I accidentally used 400 series bristol board instead of 500 series illustration board because when I pulled a new piece to cut, I pulled the wrong thing. But it didn't matter. There aren't too many layers, and the bristol had just enough tooth.

Tomorrow is another day, hopefully ant-free! (and thanks anyway Wendy Edelson for the tip about using cinnamon or cayenne, which worked for a while, but when they're set on an invasion, nothing will stop them...)

To see all the Yarn pieces in this series side-by-side, please go here. Or visit my ebay store to see which are available for sale.
All images and content herein are © Paula Pertile and may not be used or reproduced without permission.

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