We like to think of ourselves at Islandport Press as storytellers. Our primary goal is to produce good books that tell good stories with authentic voices. We aren't necessarily tied to a strict format or template for our books. Many publishers do that, produce great books, and that is fine. We just don't. We operate on gut instinct. When we came upon the manuscript for Jane Freeberg's The Scallop Christmas, we all knew we had an excellent story. Sure it was a little long and we edited to fit a 32-page picture book, but kept much of the length because it told an honest-to-gosh story.
Meanwhile, we had met young Astrid Sheckels a couple of years earlier at an illustrator's collaborative in Portland, Maine. We loved her work. We kept her postcards and small portfolio in case the right story came along to fit her evocative and traditional style. Astrid is also a storyteller, only she uses pictures rather than words. She thinks frame by frame like a filmmaker. We felt the two were a perfect fit. The result of combining the first-time author and first-time illustrator is a delightful story and beautiful book that we think will be cherished for years, if not generations to come.
Ahhh, but there was one rub. While some booksellers jumped on the bandwagon right away, others could not fit it neatly into a category—Too long for their view of a picture book, Too short for a chapter book. Not enough of this or that. Where did it fit? It didn't really. Some indie bookstores choose not to even stock it. Still, we felt The Scallop Christmas was a great book with a heartwarming story and great illustrations in the grand tradition of McCloskey. So who cares if it doesn't fit neatly into an age group? Score one for us. The book is selling well for a regional title and as people begin to read it and admire the illustrations they appreciate even more. Sales have increased as the word has spread about the book. Heidi, who runs a small Maine gift shop, said she tells people how great the book is, but be prepared, they will cry. Good story, indeed.
In the past week, The Bar Harbor Times has checked in with a wonderful review of the book (read it here), while the national website About.Com (read it here) has named it one of the Best New Children's Christmas Books of 2009.
We hope you pick up a copy. And enjoy.
