Gary, Carol and Justin VanRiper, the co-authors and interior artist for The Adirondack Kids series of children's chapterbooks
Gary and Justin VanRiper, creators of The Adirondack Kids® series of children’s chapter books, have been writing together for twelve years, and on Saturday, May 19 an exhibit of artwork from their beloved book series will begin a three-month run at View, the arts center in Old Forge.
More than 40 pieces of original art by illustrators Susan Loeffler and Carol VanRiper will be displayed, including the full-color cover art for all twelve books, poster and coloring book art, and a host of interior black-and-white illustrations.
The exhibit area will also feature mounted animal and bird life featured in the Adirondack Kids adventures and every child accompanied by an adult will receive a free copy of The Adirondack Kids® Story & Coloring Book.
The Adirondack Kids #12 - The Pond Hockey Challenge is set to release as the latest in The Adirondack Kids series of children's chapter books
An Opening Reception for the authors and artists will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. which will include the release of the latest book in the series, The Adirondack Kids® #12 – The Pond Hockey Challenge.
Admission to the exhibit is free of charge for children ages 12 and under, $4 for View members, and $8 for non-members.
“We are very excited about this generous opportunity View has provided to celebrate the work of our artists who over the years have helped to bring our characters to life,” Gary VanRiper said.
The Adirondack Kids® began as a writing exercise at home when Justin was in third grade.
Encouraged after a public reading of their piece at a Parents As Reading Partners (PARP) event at school, the project grew into a middle-reader chapter book.
When 2000 copies of their first book sold out in just three months, they began another story and for twelve years now have released one Adirondack Kids book in the series per year.
To date more than 100,000 copies in the series have been sold.It was while working on The Adirondack Kids® #4 – The Great Train Robbery when Justin handed his mom, Carol VanRiper, a photograph of the conductor at the Upper Hudson River Railroad and urged her to try drawing for the series.
Upon seeing the results, he “hired” her on the spot.
Carol has drawn all of the black and white interior illustrations ever since, making The Adirondack Kids® even more of a family affair.
The fifth book in the series, Islands in the Sky, won the 2006-07 Adirondack Literary Award for Best Children’s Book and volumes in the series are used in schools throughout New York State.
Of note, October 6, 2012 will mark the first annual Adirondack Kids Day event in Inlet.
Spring hours at View are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
To learn more about View programming, including upcoming exhibits and receptions, visit www.ViewArts.org or call (315) 369-6411.
