Cornerstone Press publishes children’s book tackling coming-of-age topics
11/24/2014
 


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ng bullies and coping with differences are woven into a new children’s book offered by Cornerstone Press, the student-staffed publishing house at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

“Eddie and Harry” is a nature-themed story of an unlikely friendship between two birds. Written by Jane Kretzmann of Monterey, Calif., it is aimed at readers in grades 3-5. Set in the Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve in California, this coming-of-age story tackles issues such as identity and coping with bullying. The friendship between Eddie, a great egret, and Harry, a great blue heron, fosters an atmosphere of trust where both birds wrestle with their insecurities and come to understand themselves better. 

The book will officially launch at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in the South Laird Room of the Dreyfus University Center at UW-Stevens Point. Members of Cornerstone Press – UW-Stevens Point students in an English editing and publishing course – will join the author, who will read from the book. It will be available for sale, and Kretzmann will sign copies. 

Kretzmann will also discuss “Eddie and Harry” and read from the book twice downtown. At 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, she will be at the Portage County Library, Stevens Point. On Thursday, Dec. 4, she will be at the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

All events are free and open to the public. 

Kretzmann’s inspiration for the story came from her daily commute to work. Passing over a branch of the Elkhorn Slough, she saw dozens of egrets. “That’s when I started to notice a lone great egret and a great blue heron always together, and began to make up names, which turned into a story about the two birds,” she said.

 Cornerstone Press 2014 Editor-in-Chief Carly Keen said Kretzmann’s storyline and illustrations by artist Diann Ditewig made the manuscript stand out. “Eddie and Harry” is a story about overcoming adversity and being able to love yourself in a way children can appreciate. The illustrations for this book are beautiful, supplement the text well, and will keep younger readers engaged in the story." 

Established in 1984, Cornerstone Press has published 34 titles in every major genre. For more information about Cornerstone Press, including book ordering information, visit uwsp.edu/cornerstone or email cornerstone@uwsp.edu

 

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