Maine author’s picture books `Wild’ creations

WILD CHILD, written by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Greg Couch, Simon & Schuster, New York, N.Y., 32 pages, $16.

MOOSE, OF COURSE!, written by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Jim Sollers, Downeast Books, Rockport, Maine, 26 pages, paperback, $9.95, hardcover, $14.95.

Lynn Plourde’s fans have reason to celebrate. This versatile Maine author has just had two lively must-read picture books published.

Following the success of her first picture book, “Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud,” Plourde was asked by an editor to create a fall book with the sadness of Rachel Field’s “Where Have All The Wild Geese Gone?” The only problem was that Plourde loves autumn. She tried to carry out this mission in a number of ways before she remembered the universal experience of putting a reluctant child to bed.

The resulting book, “Wild Child,” will quickly become a family favorite. Mother Earth tells her wild child, a delightful, pixyish embodiment of autumn, that it’s time for bed. She then tenderly meets that wild child’s requests for a song, a snack, pajamas and a kiss. Finally, with the drowsy wiggles, yawns and stretches we find so endearing in our own wild children, the wild child snuggles down into slumber.

“Wild Child” has a rich, soothing, lullaby quality. Artist Greg Couch beautifully conveys the spirit as well as the storyline with his warm autumnal palette that gradually evolves into crisp wintery tones, and his timeless depiction of the cozy, intimate dance of Mother Earth and her wild child.

Plourde feels that writing a children’s book is like giving birth. Handing her baby over to an illustrator takes a real leap of faith. Couch’s visual interpretation brought tears to her eyes. “I was part of this. I wrote words that inspired someone to create,” said Plourde.

Anyone who has engaged in a distinctly Maine spring ritual will enjoy Plourde’s “Moose, Of Course!” A very determined young man heads north hoping to capture a moose. Well-meaning adults try to derail his plans to lure and trap his moose, suggesting that he “do nuthin” instead. The boy fancies that advice as much as our own children would. It is only when he’s snared in his own noose, hanging from a tree, forced to “do nuthin” that his vigil is rewarded by the appearance of a whole moose family.

Plourde said that the Zen idea that sometimes doing nothing helps realize a treasured goal more effectively than its frenzied pursuit applies to more than moose watching. She has found it true in her writing. “I have to let go and trust and say things will work out.”

Here also Plourde’s writing has a poetic quality. Her linguistic playfulness and joy in inventing her own just-right words set a bouncy, spritely pace. It would be a sin to just read this book silently. And once you share it with your children they’ll want to hear it again and again. Its chorus — growing with each episode — encourages very young children like my Adam, 2 1/2, to memorize and join in — a necessary and very satisfying prereading skill.

Maine illustrator Jim Sollers has given the book an I Spy quality, including a little moose figure in every two-page spread. My Amber, 9, and Katie, 6 1/2, consider finding them to be way cool.

Plourde cut her reading teeth on Dick and Jane texts, graduating to Nancy Drew mysteries and other chapter books. Discovering picture books as the mother of three young children, she fell in love with them.

She advises would-be picture book writers to read, read, read! “You’ll discover how your style and voice fit in with what’s already out there.”

Plourde finds great satisfaction in holding her published books in her hands. She also enjoys visiting school and speaking with students. A Maine native who takes great pride in her state’s literary talent, she wants to inspire Maine children to nurture their voices and perspectives into print. “I have kids come up to me and say, `I can do that. I can be a writer.”‘

With five more picture books slated for publication, Plourde’s literary future looks very bright. In fact, she has just quit working as a speech therapist after 20 years to devote her life to writing books and visiting schools, declaring her intention to write picture books until the day she dies. I’m sure you’ll join me in advising her: “Take good care of yourself. You belong to Maine.”