That Happiness Thing: A Hometown Fable - Hardcover

Name: That Happiness Thing: A Hometown Fable
Brand: White & Wilkinson Publishing. Modesto, Califo
SKU: 9780997929119
Price: 20.99 USD
Availability: InStock

by Ken White

$20.99

Quantity

01

Pay over time for orders over $35.00 with

Availability:In StockContributor:Ken White, Ron Wilkinson (Illustrator)Audience:Ages 9-12Publish date:2016-11-01Pages:32

Language:EnglishPublisher:White & Wilkinson Publishing. Modesto, CalifoISBN-13:9780997929119ISBN-10:997929111UPC:9780997929119Book Category:Juvenile FictionBook Subcategory:Holidays & Celebrations, ReadersBook Topic:Christmas & Advent, Chapter Books, IntermediateSize:11.00 x 8.50 x 0.25 inchesWeight:0.8907Product ID:SCVS55WPCN

That Happiness Thing: A Hometown Fable is a children's book that poses the age-old question, "What is happiness?" Which is what a 10-year-old boy from a small California town wants to know. It's 1958. Christmas is just around the corner. His family isn't happy and he doesn't know why. So he sets out to explore his home town and find out. With a little help from an elderly gentleman and a magical snow globe, he discovers that true happiness isn't about having the most of everything, but making the most of everything you have. When his journey is finally complete, he learns that That Happiness Thing is home and family.

That Happiness Thing is a bit of a hybrid, with elements of a children's picture book and chapter book. I envision it as an illustrated short story for children and adults, similar to Nate the Great. Its look and feel is not unlike The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert and Per Breiehagen, Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems, and The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.

Although I conceived and designed it as a children's picture book aimed at 5 to 10-year-olds, the real audience is Baby Boomer parents and grandparents, who will appreciate the nostalgia and will share it with their children and grandchildren. I also see older children (8 to 10) reading it on their own.

I have included a map tracing the protagonist's route. I plan to partner with the local museum to conduct tours during the holidays that would follow the same journey. We would read the story and show pictures of what the locations looked like back in 1958.

I will also be giving away a miniature snow globe, similar to what Chris Van Allsburg did with the silver bell in The Polar Express.

Although the story is very specific to one small town, I believe it could be easily tailored to any town in the country.

Language:EnglishPublisher:White & Wilkinson Publishing. Modesto, CalifoISBN-13:9780997929119ISBN-10:997929111UPC:9780997929119Book Category:Juvenile FictionBook Subcategory:Holidays & Celebrations, ReadersBook Topic:Christmas & Advent, Chapter Books, IntermediateSize:11.00 x 8.50 x 0.25 inchesWeight:0.8907Product ID:SCVS55WPCN

White, Ken: - Ken White recently retired from the worlds of advertising, corporate communications, and interactive entertainment to concentrate on writing and community service. He received his A.A. degree at Modesto Junior College, his B.A. and teaching credential at UC Davis, and his M.A. at San Francisco State University. He has taught mass communications and film appreciation at Modesto Junior College. Born in Lathrop and raised in Modesto, California, he continues to live in his home town. He is married to Robin and has two adult step-sons, Tyler and Eric. He has written novels, screenplays, short stories, stage plays, children's and non-fiction books. Most of his stories are about his home town and the Central Valley heartland.Wilkinson, Ron: - Ron Wilkinson currently works with his wife at Nishihara/Wilkinson Design, developing brands, designing packaging, and promoting food based business throughout the United States. He graduated from California State University, Chico, with a degree in fine arts. His skills as a fine artist have led to work in graphic design for over thirty years, including numerous illustration projects. Born in San Diego and raised in Salida, California, he currently resides in Turlock with his wife, Darice, and their youngest daughter, Sammie. He also has an older daughter, Jackie, son-in-law, and two granddaughters. This is Ron's fourth book design, second illustrated, and third commercially available.

Publisher: White & Wilkinson Publishing. Modesto, Califo

Contributor(s)

Ken White, Ron Wilkinson (Illustrator)

Author

Ken White

Free shipping on orders over $75. Standard shipping takes 3-7 business days. Returns accepted within 30 days of purchase.

That Happiness Thing: A Hometown Fable is a children's book that poses the age-old question, "What is happiness?" Which is what a 10-year-old boy from a small California town wants to know. It's 1958. Christmas is just around the corner. His family isn't happy and he doesn't know why. So he sets out to explore his home town and find out. With a little help from an elderly gentleman and a magical snow globe, he discovers that true happiness isn't about having the most of everything, but making the most of everything you have. When his journey is finally complete, he learns that That Happiness Thing is home and family.

That Happiness Thing is a bit of a hybrid, with elements of a children's picture book and chapter book. I envision it as an illustrated short story for children and adults, similar to Nate the Great. Its look and feel is not unlike The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert and Per Breiehagen, Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems, and The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.

Although I conceived and designed it as a children's picture book aimed at 5 to 10-year-olds, the real audience is Baby Boomer parents and grandparents, who will appreciate the nostalgia and will share it with their children and grandchildren. I also see older children (8 to 10) reading it on their own.

I have included a map tracing the protagonist's route. I plan to partner with the local museum to conduct tours during the holidays that would follow the same journey. We would read the story and show pictures of what the locations looked like back in 1958.

I will also be giving away a miniature snow globe, similar to what Chris Van Allsburg did with the silver bell in The Polar Express.

Although the story is very specific to one small town, I believe it could be easily tailored to any town in the country.

White, Ken: - Ken White recently retired from the worlds of advertising, corporate communications, and interactive entertainment to concentrate on writing and community service. He received his A.A. degree at Modesto Junior College, his B.A. and teaching credential at UC Davis, and his M.A. at San Francisco State University. He has taught mass communications and film appreciation at Modesto Junior College. Born in Lathrop and raised in Modesto, California, he continues to live in his home town. He is married to Robin and has two adult step-sons, Tyler and Eric. He has written novels, screenplays, short stories, stage plays, children's and non-fiction books. Most of his stories are about his home town and the Central Valley heartland.Wilkinson, Ron: - Ron Wilkinson currently works with his wife at Nishihara/Wilkinson Design, developing brands, designing packaging, and promoting food based business throughout the United States. He graduated from California State University, Chico, with a degree in fine arts. His skills as a fine artist have led to work in graphic design for over thirty years, including numerous illustration projects. Born in San Diego and raised in Salida, California, he currently resides in Turlock with his wife, Darice, and their youngest daughter, Sammie. He also has an older daughter, Jackie, son-in-law, and two granddaughters. This is Ron's fourth book design, second illustrated, and third commercially available.

Publisher: White & Wilkinson Publishing. Modesto, Califo

Contributor(s)

Ken White, Ron Wilkinson (Illustrator)

Author

Ken White

That Happiness Thing: A Hometown Fable - Hardcover

Highlights

Specifications

About this item

Ratings & Reviews

Specifications

About the Author

About the Publisher

Credits

Shipping & Return

Recently Viewed

Get Help

Explore