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Published on 07/13/1998 All articles from this issue

Local Web publisher introduces first children's books

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By Carol Tiegs

Special to the Town Crier

Owl's House Press of Los Altos is introducing its first two illustrated books for children.

Less than a year old, Owl's House Press is part of Owl's House Inc., the Internet's largest children's book and music store, also located in Los Altos. Owl's House was founded last year by Chung-Yu Ting and his daughter Renee Ting, both of Los Altos Hills.

Publishing veteran Connie Burton joined the Tings in developing Owl's House Press. Burton said the new publisher is "dedicated to the notion that a small press can, using the vast reach of the Internet, actually influence the way children understand their world and face their future." That makes choosing influential authors in educatiion, fine artists and high-quality materials of essence to Owl's House Press, she said.

"Dinner at Five" and "Between a Wink and a Dream" are Owl's House's first two titles, available in bookstores this month.

"Dinner at Five" is the collaborative effort of author Ruth I. Peterson, Ph.D., a consulting psychologist and professor emeritus at George Washington University, and illustrator Nathan Jarvis. Once a professional clown, Jarvis is now art director for business communications at Hallmark.

The book tells what happens when 5-year-old Ruthie secretly invites everyone to her home town to a surprise dinner for her mother and everyone accepts her invitation.

T.R. Vannatta, a member of the creative curriculum development team of the Liberal Arts Academy of the Austin, Texas Independent School District, is the author of "Between a Wink and a Dream." A fantasy journal of the life and times of Theodora Thatcher Rabbit and her remarkable and gifted rabbit clan, the book features 13 original watercolors by Laura Telford, master painting instructor at the Laguna Gloria Art Museum in Austin, Texas.

Vannatta and Telford will visit Linden Tree Children's Records and Books from 1-3 p.m. Aug. 1 to read and sign their first book. Linden Tree is located at 170 State St., in Los Altos.

Ting said she is pleased with the Owl's House's growth since it opened on the Internet in December 1997.

The Owl's House Web site is www.owlshouse.com.