Book illustrator to speak at Prospect library

Children's book illustrator Terri Murphy has always been a rambler at heart, searching for undiscovered treasure in people, places and things. So when she was contacted by Bright Sky Press recently to illustrate author Kelly Bennett's picture book, “One Day I Went Rambling,” she jumped at the opportunity.

“Rambling,” Terri explains, “is finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Coming from a long line of ramblers, scavengers, craftsmen and conjurers, I related to this picture book story. ‘One Day I Went Rambling' is about a boy, Zane, who sees things a little differently. When Zane declares a discarded hubcap is a flying saucer's crest, and a withering vine is a cowpoke's twirling rope, he is shunned and ridiculed by the neighborhood kids. He perseveres in his daily flights of fancy and in the end Zane is ultimately victorious, sweeping his friends along in a new vision they create together.”

Terri used a little creative rambling of her in “One Day I Went Rambling.” Even though it doesn't say so in the story, Terri wanted the first kid to play along with Zane's imagination game to be a Down syndrome child. It's only evident in the pictures for those sensitive enough to see it, but it was important, Terri says, to include a child that retains the purity of wonder indefinitely and for that child to be first to “ramble” along with Zane.

Saving best for last, the final illustration in “One Day I Went Rambling” asks the reader to use their imagination and take a guess at what is shown.

Terri Murphy is a freelance illustrator and the Illustrator's Network Coordinator in Illinois for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She will be speaking about the making of “One Day I Went Rambling” and children's illustration in general at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at the Prospect Heights Public Library program, “Journey of a Picture Book.”

Call to reserve a seat for this one hour program with book sales/signing to follow, (847) 259-3500, ext. 35, or online at www.phpl.info.

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