Digging Spring by Elisabeth Hurley and Erin Sherman
February 17, 2009 by Elisabeth Hurley
The magical emergence of spring is delightfully written and illustrated in Digging Spring, a picture book from the author/illustrator team of Elisabeth Hurley of Skaneateles and Erin Sherman of Weedsport, New York. Little Ann is saddened by the lack of time her mother has to spend with her until she discovers the wonders of springtime in her own backyard, making new friends including Grandmother Earth. The team is particularly delighted with the response the book has received so far. Young children adore it, adults applaud it for its “clarity and beauty of language” and for its “fantastic illustrations.” A nine-year old reader said “I love that book“, and a fourteen-year old called it “a wonderful story of spring coming to life.”
About the Author
Elisabeth Hurley was born and raised in Germany. She graduated from Fordham University summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature and a Master of Science degree in Education. For an independent study she received special honors. She held administrative positions in for profit and not for profit organizations, requiring extensive technical writing. A passionate reader with a love for the written word, she has collected children’s books from different time periods. For personal pleasure she read to New York City neighborhood children and wrote a historic exploration of the Hudson Highlands and a detailed travel log about an archaeological excavation she participated in.
By writing a book for children, the author fulfilled a long-time dream. Her recent retirement gave her the free time to let her imagination take full reign. Picturing her granddaughter and niece, both of kindergarten age, helped immensely. Yet, Elisabeth’s own love of nature was the start and focus of the story.
About the illustrator
Erin (Bellamy) Sherman followed her education in the Skaneateles school system and junior college degree in Studio Art & Design with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Illustration from the Rochester Institute of Technology, with additional studies in Graphic Design, also from RIT. She uses her combined skills for the creation of unique and rewarding designs for area businesses. Her website is www.erinsherman.com.
Erin’s great desire is in creating illustrations for children’s books. For this reason she was delighted to illustrate Digging Spring, a story she was attracted to for its “creative imagination of spring in the mind of a child, and for the redemptive quality in its conclusion.” This talented artist enjoys presenting her work to children in elementary schools and to art students at her first alma mater, Cayuga Community College, where she was given the special honor of being chosen Visiting Artist for a number of years.
Availability
Digging Spring can be purchased at Creekside Books and Coffee in Skaneateles. It is also available on www.lulu.com.
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I read about Digging Spring in the RIT spring magazine. I read about you both, on the internet and am intrigued by your book. I congratulate each of you and am so happy you each have your first book published. The title is catchy and the nature theme exciting. The illustrations have wonderful expression. I told my daughter about the book and asked her if their librarian could order it for their school and she said of course. She teaches a K-1 class and I know the children would love it or anyone else.
Like the author I have always longed to write and illustrate a children’s book. I am a 1956 art graduate of RIT. I have two books started but I am very SLOW, there always seems to be “something else to do”. But I still have the desire in my heart.
Sincerely,
Carol Logan
Good luck with your book.