It’s a ‘Turnip Tune Up’
Kathy Birt writes kids book in praise of this Island vegetable
A new children’s book, “Turnip Tune Up”, aimed at ages between 2 and 5 years, is being launched at the Confederation Centre Library on Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.
With 10 books behind her, including a novel, Island author Kathy Birt says she had no plans to do a children’s book until 2015 when she read a rhyming poem about the turnip to her writers’ group. “TWiG (The Writer’s in Group) members were enthusiastic about the poem and agreed that it would make a great children’s book with the right illustrations,” said the author. She had no problem finding the right person to do the illustrations. Fellow writer and children’s author Carl McNally had his (children’s) book illustrated by Duncan Brooks and Birt liked the entire book so much she gained permission to copy the book design from McNally and utilized the talents of Brooks to get just the right illustrations.
“Duncan and I met on a few occasions, first to discuss the book and what I was looking for, than for me to have a look at the beginnings of the illustrations,” said Birt.
Once the illustrations were ready, Birt called Kelly Gray to design and complete the book.
“I’ve joined forces with Kelly in the past for my Valentine book and the cover of my novel. Both she and Duncan are very talented and understand what is expected of them both in the design of a book like this … and Kelly, who is studying graphic design at Holland College, sees herself doing more books as a big part of her future.”
Doing a book about eating turnip was essential at some point in her life, Birt says.
“I wrote the rhyming poem about turnip back in the late ’90s at a time when I was interviewing turnip growers. I simply stored it in my Word files with many other pieces of work.
“Pulling it out in 2015 was simply to provide something to read at my weekly meeting with TWiG. But as I read this poem over and over to myself, the notion of using it in a children’s book took form.”
Birt approached Brooks and Gray in July 2017 and while there were a few hiccups along the way, the book, which also promotes the turnip, is now ready and the launch date set.
“My plan is a little unusual. I’m rewarding each child who buys a book on the day of the launch, with a turnip, donated by Brookfield Gardens.”
Some memories Birt has about turnip is making Jack-olanterns from them in the 1950s for school Halloween parties.
“From what I remember, there were not a lot of pumpkins around and turnips were used for (Jack-o-lanterns) and we’d sit them on the window ledge on Halloween night with a candle in them.”