A new 12-volume series of childrenB次元官网网址檚 books from best-selling Cowichan Valley author Teresa Schapansky is already atop the Amazon charts.

Known for her B次元官网网址楥oinkeeper: The Avery ChroniclesB次元官网网址� series and other publications, her latest venture, B次元官网网址楢long the WayB次元官网网址� has been a long time coming.

ItB次元官网网址檚 very existence comes as a result of a chance meeting between Schapansky and former Make-a-Wish Foundation President Bob Winterford at a Make-A-Wish Foundation ice fishing derby at Wabamun Lake in Alberta.

B次元官网网址淚 met Bob, and through chattering teeth; we had an amazing and life-altering conversation,B次元官网网址� Schapansky noted. B次元官网网址淭he writing of the B次元官网网址楢long the WayB次元官网网址� series is due to his creative genius, and I feel honoured to have been chosen to join our star, Albert, as he takes young readers on a dino-style, cross-Canada, educational and entertaining road trip.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址楢long the WayB次元官网网址� books feature Albert the young dinosaur, B次元官网网址渨ho takes his readers on make-believe road trips to points of interest around the country, where they can learn amazing geographical and historical facts and be introduced to different cultures, cuisine, horticulture, science and more.B次元官网网址�

The dino rollerblades, hops on trains, crosses mountains, and more to get across the country, educating his readers all the while. ItB次元官网网址檚 written with children aged six to 12 in mind and, because Albert wants to give back, a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of each book, will be donated quarterly to local childrenB次元官网网址檚 mental health and literacy programs.

B次元官网网址淭he decision to have the books narrated by a dinosaur was deliberate,B次元官网网址� Winterford, who inspired the series, said. B次元官网网址淒inosaurs, similar to unicorns, fairies and leprechauns, are mystical, sometimes magical creatures that open up our creativity and learning about them, leads to imaginary play, which is crucial for childrenB次元官网网址檚 development. Anyone can narrate a book, but once we threw Albert into the mix, I knew we were on to something big.B次元官网网址�

The storylines had plenty of time to develop as Schapansky searched high and low for just the right illustrator to construct her vision.

In the end, it turned out she didnB次元官网网址檛 have to look too far at all. The illustrator ended up being SchapanskyB次元官网网址檚 very own neighbour!

B次元官网网址淲e started this series a long time ago and I could not find the right illustrator but I found her in May,B次元官网网址� she said with a chuckle. B次元官网网址淪he lives across the street from me. Cowichan Valley artist Elly Mossman has singlehandedly brought every single cover and every single page of the B次元官网网址楢long the WayB次元官网网址� series to life.B次元官网网址�

Mostly self-taught, Mossman is a painter and an award-winning newspaper editorial cartoonist and book illustrator. During the pandemic she began working on her own comic stories called B次元官网网址楪rampa Was an AlienB次元官网网址� (grampawasanalien.com).

Schapansky says Mossman is the Cowichan ValleyB次元官网网址檚 best kept secret.

B次元官网网址淢eeting Elly has been one of the greatest highlights of my life,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 am so pleased to be working alongside her.B次元官网网址�

Schapansky plans to launch her book both locally and with a couple events in Alberta, likely in late November.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 big stuff,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really exciting.B次元官网网址�

. The books will be available locally and on Amazon.

sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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