By Adam Eisenbarth
The Rimbey Municipal Library celebrated the release of two published children’s books by a local author.
Author and illustrator Sara Dudenhoeffer launched her books, Wild Hooves, a children’s novel, and The Night Jayden Saved The Moon, a picture book story that her three-year-old son conceived.
Dudenhoeffer is satisfied with the way the books turned out but was hoping to sell them for less than the $14 they sell for.
“Because we printed them in the States it cost a lot of money to ship them here, so I’m not as happy with how much we have to charge for them. We would have liked to have made them cheaper.”
Nonetheless, you can’t put a price on children’s literacy and authors like Dudenhoeffer, says librarian Jean Keetch.
“Without children’s authors we wouldn’t have children’s books. Without children’s books we wouldn’t have literacy. So without literacy the whole world comes to a screeching halt.”
Keetch says it was nice to display some local talent.
“I think it’s wonderful. For a library to showcase a local author, because so many of our authors are American, so to have someone homegrown is really wonderful.”
Dudenhoeffer grew up in Rimbey and was inspired by her librarian at the Rimbey Christian School, Anna vanHaastert.
“I remember our whole grade, every time we had library period, we’d want her to read to us because we loved the way she read books. Even in junior high we wanted her reading the children’s books to us,” said Dudenhoeffer.
VanHaastert was on hand to read The Night Jayden Saved The Moon.
“The thing I really like about it is using the child’s imagination in making the story. Hopefully parents will be encouraged to continue to do that with their children especially in this technical world where a lot of these books are kind of going to be obsolete because of the internet,” said vanHaastert of the book.
It was an exciting night to see her former student enjoying success.
“It’s so amazing. She’s from a very gifted class. She’s the second one in her class to be an illustrator, but she writes on top of that. It’s very exciting.”
While vanHaastert read to two students who are now in the children’s book industry, she was unsure of the impact she had.
“You hope that (you had some impact), because you always want to spellbound them with literature. Sara said that she always loved library and you hear that from children a lot. I think I read to them all her years in school.”
Dudenhoeffer says it was important to return to Rimbey for the launch.
“I grew up in Rimbey, my family’s in Rimbey, I definitely feel most supported in Rimbey. Actually when I was driving here, I was just thinking, ‘It’s so nice to just come home.’ Even if you don’t live here anymore, it just feels like home.”
Her books are available at lulu.com.