Melanie Larson, author of the children’s storybook “The Day Petunia Had Piglets in the Strawberry Patch” uses her childhood memories and her experience as a mother on a Saskatchewan farm to write this newest book.
This is her third book from the Adventures of the Barnyard Boys book series and sixth publication. Her other two illustrated books from the series are called The Day I Lost My Bear in Cypress Hills and The Day I Discovered a Dinosaur Bone.
“How can I create a book that is educational, funny and memorable that children and their caregivers will want to read over and over again?” Larson said.
While writing a book, her thought process always evolves around something which will be educational and fun-loving for children.
Larson is a farm wife and mother of three beautiful children in southwest Saskatchewan. She also does reclamation work in the oil and gas industry. She grew up on a ranch. Her hobby is writing children’s books. “I grew up on a ranch and there was always something new and exciting happening with the farm animals.”
The book is a children’s illustrated storybook about three brothers that live on a farm that adopt a Kunekune pig named Petunia. Occasionally, Petunia escapes from her pen.
One spring day on the farm, the brothers go to feed Petunia and once again she has escaped. The brothers split up in search of Petunia, checking the barn, pasture, chicken coop and more places looking for her.
Along the way, the three brothers discover new baby farm animals all over the farm.
Will they find Petunia, and will she also have a surprise for the three boys?
The characters in the book are loosely based on her children and their grandparents, who also play a big role in their lives on the farm. “I have a personal connection with all of my books.”
She said her favourite part of the book is the search page at the end of the book. She wants to remind children that each animal has a certain purpose on the farm. She also wants children to understand animals are not only just cute and cuddly but are also domesticated for farm labour, their hides can be used for clothing, and they are also livestock food.
The illustrations of her book were done by FX and Color Studio. Bright and colourful illustrations are used to inspire the readers, and these were done using her real farm photographs.
Larson says her books are written with education, adventure and humour to liven up her readers’ experience.
Her future plans include writing more children’s books with a background setting of Saskatchewan.
Larson concludes by wishing all her readers and book collectors a “Merry Christmas”.
To read and/or purchase her books, please visit www.mlarsonbooks.com
