Dispatches from Islandport

Our wonderful Christmas book

The long unavailable children’s book “My Wonderful Christmas Tree” by legendary Maine artist Dahlov Ipcar is back on store shelves just in time for the holidays.

We’re really pleased with our redesigned hardcover edition of Ipcar’s inspired holiday classic. The book depicts, with signature Ipcar style, the colorful and curious creatures that live in the New England forest at Christmastime. From the one shining star that graces the top of the living outdoor Christmas tree to the black bears, snowy owls, happy chipmunks and other woodland inhabitants that visit the tree, the book is a delightful celebration of nature and the holiday season. You can view pages from the book here.

The beautiful book is a perfect gift for young and old alike. Look for it at a bookstore or gift shop near you, or order it here. For an even more special treat, have Ipcar autograph your copy. Here’s where she’ll be over the next few weeks, and books will be available for purchase at these events as well:

L.L. Bean retail store, Freeport, Nov. 29, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Borders Books & Music, Brunswick, Dec. 7, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Dec. 14, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Stop the presses! Tribute planned

Not too many folks mark their 50th anniversary with news articles on the front page of newspapers, but then, "Bert and I" aren't just anybody. 

Both the Bangor Daily News and the Lewiston Sun Journal ran an Associated Press story about famous duo smack dab on page one today. 

A fitting tribute, we say. And speaking of tributes ...

Grab Gagnon and Virgil Bliss, fire up the ole’ Bluebird, and join “Bert and I” co-founder Bob Bryan and other Maine humorists as they pay tribute to the legendary “Bert and I” at L.L. Bean on Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. That's Bryan on the left, above, and Dodge, you guessed it, on the right. 

The special 50th anniversary tribute performance will feature not only a rare public performance by Bryan, but also Tim Sample, John McDonald, Rebecca Rule, Kendall Morse, and Fred Dodge, brother of Bryan's co-founder, the late Marshall Dodge—an unprecedented gathering of storytellers who have been inspired by the work of Dodge and Bryan.

Each performance will last approximately 30 minutes. Bryan will be available after each to answer questions and sign “Bert and I” CDs, including the new “Best of Bert and I” released this summer by Islandport Press. The performance will take place inside the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport and is part of the famed retailer’s Northern Lights celebration.

We hope to see you there!

Maine Things Considered

Our latest CD, The Best of Bert and I ... Celebrating 50 Years of Stories from Down East, was featured last night on Maine Public Radio’s “Maine Things Considered” show. Robert Bryan, half of the iconic duo, tells interviewer Keith Shortall about the origins of "Bert and I" and offers up a few of the funny Down East tales that made him and the late Marshall Dodge famous.

If you missed the show in the midst of all the Election Night hubbub, don’t despair! Go here to listen. 

Stay tuned for news about an upcoming special tribute performance to "Bert and I" at L.L. Bean.

Meet Astrid

We happily welcome artist and illustrator Astrid Sheckels to our Islandport family. Astrid, of western Massachusetts, was unanimously selected by Islandport staffers to illustrate our 2009 holiday children’s book, The Scallop Christmas,  a heartwarmingly nostalgic story written by Georgetown resident Jane Freeberg. (More about Jane later. You'll like her, too!)

Astrid, who teaches art courses to adults and children at Artspace Community Art Center in Greenfield, Mass., has won a number of awards for her art, including the Archibald McLeish Prize for Art and the Medici Award in the Visual Arts. She works with oil on canvas, charcoal, graphite and watercolor; her illustrations for The Scallop Christmas will be watercolors.

“I cannot remember a time when I was not interested in drawing, cutting, gluing, and coloring,” Astrid says. “Neither can I remember a time when I was not illustrating stories.”

For more information about Astrid and to see her beautiful work, check out her website.