NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University graduate Perry Anderson will be featured at a book signing at the Northwestern State Marketplace bookstore from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 19. Anderson has authored two children’s books, “Mr. Green and Mr. Blue’s Party at the Zoo” and “Mr. Green and Mr. Blue’s Part at the Farm.”
Books and t-shirts will be available for purchase.
Anderson, who graduated from Northwestern State in 1985, wrote “Mr. Green and Mr. Blue’s Party at the Zoo” his first year out of college when he was teaching elementary physical education at NSU Elementary Lab School.
“I’ve always loved working and playing with children as well as having an interest in children’s literature,” he said. “Being inspired by the Shel Silverstein books, ‘Where the Sidewalk Ends and ‘A Light In the Attic, I was inspired to write.”
Anderson had written several children’s poems in hopes of publishing a book of nonsense poems for children. He still has that collection, some of which were never finished.
“This particular poem was one of the longer ones and after sharing it with my aunt, who is an artist, we decided to try and have it published as a children’s picture book with her doing the illustrations. This was around 1990 or so,” he said.
Perry’s aunt, Beth Dupree, began working on the illustrations, but while moving around the country with her husband who was serving in the Air Force, years passed and the project was delayed.
“After her husband retired and they settled, she was able to return her attention to the task. So, after 30 years of when the original story poem was written, we were finally able to see our dream come into fruition in December of 2015,” Anderson said. “The second book, ‘Mr. Green & Mr. Blue’s Party at the Farm,’ was published in June of this year and we are excited for it also.”
Anderson is a native of Ashland and now resides in Athens where he and his wife Kim raised three sons, Jake, Ethan and Tyler. After earning a degree in physical and elementary education, he spent 30 years teaching and working with children of all ages, serving as a teacher, principal and program coordinator. He is now retired and serves as a local pastor in the United Methodist Church.
Anderson said has always considered himself a big kid with a great passion for helping young children learn and promoting the joy of reading.
“The love for reading is such an important aspect to instill in a child’s life.”
The NSU Marketplace is located at 912 University Parkway. The book signing coincides with the university’s Homecoming festivities that will be on-going throughout the day.
Anderson’s books are also available at Amazon, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble and Mascot Books.
