Local resident Jody Jacob publishes children’s book

Book launch and reading on November 14 at Soulfood; proceeds donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cranbrook.

Cranbrook author Jody Jacob. — Photo courtesy Mindful Marketing

Writer Jody Jacob, born and raised in Cranbrook, has published a children’s book called The Man & the Bear, created for kids between the ages of birth to seven.

The Man & the Bear is about a mischievous old man who lives alone in the bush. While going about his day the man encounters a bear, bees and a bird, but -- with a glimmer in his eye and smirk upon his lips -- scares them all away. However, the old man meets his match by the end of the book.

“The book is based on a song originally written by my great grandmother about a century ago,” says Jacob. “It has been sung lovingly, boisterously and mostly out of tune, for five generations. I’ve been working on it off the side of my desk for almost a year now and it’s an incredibly meaningful project for me to bring to fruition.”

Jacob will be holding a book launch on Nov. 14 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Soulfood where she will do a live reading at both 4:15 and 5 p.m., as well as a book signing. Kids under 12 enjoy a mini buffet of items from the Soulfood kid's menu, by donation. There will also be door prizes and colouring sheet activities featuring images from The Man & the Bear.

— Photo courtesy Mindful Marketing

Fifty per cent of proceeds from every book sold during the launch will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters Cranbrook, as well as 100 per cent of funds raised by Soulfood through the kid’s meal donations. After November 14, 10 per cent of proceeds from every book sold will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cranbrook.

“Literacy is a value our mentors promote and can be a contributing factor in a child realizing their full potential,” says Jordan Macdonald, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cranbrook. “It’s such an honour to be picked as the charity of choice for The Man & the Bear. Donation proceeds will go towards supporting our community-based mentoring program.”

Books are $20 and can be requested by texting/calling 250-859-4086 or emailing [email protected]. More information can be found via the Man & the Bear Facebook page or by visiting www.mindfulmarketing-pr.com/the-man-the-bear.

Jacob will also be selling The Man & the Bear at the Cranbrook Farmer’s Market Winter Market on Saturday, Nov. 25.