ARLINGTON — How often in this town can people buy autographed copies of two children’s books by local authors on the same day on the same street?
Well, it’s happening Saturday, and Maureen Frandsen can’t wait.
Frandsen is the author of a self- published book about her ragdoll cat and her Yorkshire terrier. “Jaxon Rags and Smidjun” features Frandsen’s photography and a sweet tale of two friends and their adventures at home.
Frandsen, who lives west of Arlington, originally wrote the book for her four grandchildren. The grandkids, her sons and her husband loved it so much, she decided to try her hand at marketing her own book.
“The reactions I’ve had from people to the book are very gratifying. I’ve always loved words and have been a reader forever,” Frandsen said. “It wasn’t until digital, though, that I became passionate about photography.”
Granite Falls natives John and Margie West also have a book to sell. The couple, who live south of Arlington, started on their ABC rhyming book, “Spyglass,” about five years ago. Former teachers at Shoultes Elementary School in Marysville, the Wests have run a preschool day care for teachers’ kids out of their home for many years.
Their book — geared toward preschoolers, kindergartners and first-graders — includes a spyglass decoder that helps children learn facts about animals and find animals in photos that accompany each letter of the alphabet.
“Spyglass” was written in hopes that parents and teachers would interact with their young learners and show them how fun learning can be, John West said.
The Wests traded one of their dogs for neighbor Mike Inks’ services completing the graphic design for the book.
“And our son Austin really pushed us into it,” Margie West said. “We hope this is the first in a series of spyglass books.”
More information about Frandsen’s book is available at 360-435-9277 and the Wests can be contacted at 360-658-6523.
Their website is www.spy glasschildrensbook.com.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
Meet the authors
John and Margie West plan to sign copies of their children’s book, “Spyglass: A Peek and Spy Rhyming Alphabet Book,” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Rocket Alley, 420 N. Olympic Ave.
Maureen Frandsen plans to sign her kids’ book, “Jaxon Rags and Smidjun: A Tale of Two Furry Friends,” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Evonne’s Antique Mall, 340 N. Olympic Ave. The books are for sale for $14.95 each from the authors.
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