What's New is...
A funny red dog who wandered into the
swamp....
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Hey Kids! What time
is it
??!! Time for a new children's book !
---
be pleased to check
out-
Keith Van Allen's
Creatures
in
the
Water
featuring
the
adventures of...
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copyright by Keith Van Allen
Creatures in the Water is a
unique book for kids of all ages. A
comical irish setter has a spontaneous vision quest in the wetlands and
over comes his fear of water while expanding his awe of all creation.
Animator-director-writer Keith Van Allen
has combined both environmental awareness and spiritual mystery with
good old spooky fun as Festus, his four legged red protagonist,
discovers new dimensions of the world beyond
and within,while finding he is sustained by a vision of love and
wonder-filled security as he explores
the proliforation and plethora of life on the planet, both present and
past. Van Allen brings old time classic animation quality to bare with
drawing skills honed from long his career working with Care Bears,the
Tazmanian Devil, Chester Cheetos,Curious George,Doug and many other
characters,as well as an atmospheric sense of color and mood, with a
poetic text that brings to mind Boris Karloff reading the Grinch. A
sort of Poe for kids, combining a sense of what strangeness lies
around the next corner, of fearful beauty and ultimate peace. He
believes fully in the epiphany moment available from Nature at any
time, even if , or perhaps especially as experienced by a dog. At heart
he is a transcendentalist. His poetic skill is honed from long years
growing up in the spontaneously creative Van Allen family, where such
going's on were the normal way of communicating. Iambic pentameter was
expected of him at age 8 and perspective drawing at age 4. These were
just normal skills to be aquired, as exemplified by his
father,such as walking and seeing,.and welling with emotion at the site
of special effect of light and cloud, habits which would
sustain
him in difficult times as well as inspiring his best work. Creatures in
the Water is not just a book to cuddle up with alone, but should be
performed in parlour or back room, as should all poetry, as well
as shared among family and friends as that "really neat or gnarly
book", that will live well on one's shelf. Dominic DeBriesiac
For further info on publishing status please call 804-276-1801 or email
vananim@vcu.org.
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Creatures in the
Water had it's genesis
in New Orleans when
a hurricane
cinematographer gave an animator a puppy.When Keith Van
Allen was working at Fox Productions in the Big Easy,
animating and
directing cartoons of a giant
rock n' roll bee attacking the SuperDome,or a dancing snowman
with an icecream cone on his head, a fine and fun cinematographer named
Sonny brought him a furry friend ,( the only survivor of 2 in a litter
from a 14 year old mother) to keep him company. Sonny knew about water,
having flown into many a hurricane's eye, but the little tan
dog with the funny sad face,who later turned red, not so much. He
wanted very much to get into the
water,but was not
sure how or if he even should.This was maybe a good thing considering
the size of the gar fish in the Metarie canal. But forever after
throughout his
16 year life,Festus,for that's the only name he could have, made a
lot of funny faces and reactions as he tiptoed into water,
watching every tiny ripple or bloop with a watchful eye. On such
as that was hung
a poem, and then pictures to go along. KVA
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Festus
Festus began his life as a little tan puppy on Division St. in
Metairie,Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
while his master was busy animating down on Esplanade St. in New
Orleans. He was half Golden Retriever and half Irish Setter.Within a
few months the tan turned to a rich red with feathery strands.When
Keith followed the animation trade to Canada, he left him in Virginia
with his parents, but never forgot him,and on the day they parted he
wrote the first version of the poem,"Creatures in the Water".Sometime
after they were reunited and shared many adventures.Festus traveled all
over,always with "that special relationship with water".Keith's
grandmother was always begging for drawings of "Fess" and for him to do
something with him. First he wrote and designed this four legged
comedian into an animated Halloween feature project,and then into this
children's book.Wherever Festus appeared he always entertained.We hope
he does the same for you.
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See FESTUS
now! in-
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Popcorn
Magazine for children is an
exciting magazine for kids and parents, containing articles and info,
fun,stories and more! Follow the Popcorn Kids as they explore the world
of knowledge,friendship, humor and wonder! In this issue; Olympic gold and
silver medalist champion Shawn Johnson at the 2008 China Olympics;
"Technology Update" features folding scooters,a bionic eye for your TV,
laser tag plug n' play and more;Rachel visits Kenya at
President Obama's family village and talks to school
leaders,
launching a fund raising campaign;In Popcornville, Salty continues to
get in trouble in the "Case of the Missing Map" while other denizens of
P-ville wonder what life is like on the outside beyond the glass, in a
story by Toney Moses and Les Harper ; "Ask the Doc" visits an
orthopedic
surgeon;and in "The Adventures of Festus the Wonderdog", a vision
quest takes a curious irish setter on a bumbling but wondrous discovery
of the wetlands and the dreamworld, in a preview appearance of Keith
Van Allen's children's book, "Creatures in the Water".
Also,
on the Popcorn website, see the Popcorn Kids new
music video!
WE JUST
LOVE
TO POP!
ZZ.av.x,z,/,k/qqz//,..YY
!!
Stories
Art Games Info
FUN!
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Rachel in
Africa
http://www.popcornmagazine.net/index.php
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Salty
Popcorn in -
"The Case of the Missing Map"
The Popcorn Kids
Popcorn Kids
like to laugh, sing, use their imaginations and have a lot of fun. You
can too!
To order or download
Popcorn just go to the Popcorn Magazine website.
Popcorn is published by Popcorn Media Productions Inc. P.O. Box 9223,
Richmond,VA 23227 USA
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