Messers publish a children's book

Carolyn Statler

It's never a small undertaking to write and publish a book.

There is a dearth of Indiana books for children, especially younger children. "H is for Hoosier" is very well done, but it is really too wordy for small children.

Luke and Jennifer Messer have done it all just right with "Hoosier Heart": A Story about Hoosiers and Indiana." He wrote the text, and she created the illustrations.

The book answers the question "What's a Hoosier?" in a way that will be easily understood by small children. The Messers' children are quite young, so they had an in-house audience and critics.

The text is written simply, usually only one or two sentences per page, but not so simply that children who are a little older can't enjoy learning something about Indiana.

The illustrations are child-friendly and child-like and in bright, bold colors.

Many children will recognize places they have visited such as Santa Claus, Ind. There are, of course, all the other things that say "Indiana" to us such as basketball, the Indy 500 and fields of corn and soybeans.

I particularly like the state map with a big star for Indianapolis. There also are illustrations of a few other places across the state such as Greensburg, with its courthouse tree.

I was touched by the last pages that say that some Hoosiers move away, but they remain Hoosiers because "the key to being a Hoosier is having a big Hoosier heart." What a lovely sentiment.

The Messers have already received praise from some famous Hoosiers such as Gov. Mitch Daniels, which appear on the back cover. Luke represents District 57, including most of Shelby County, in the Indiana House. To their praise, we at Three Sisters bookstore add ours.

Luke and Jennifer will be at Three Sisters Books & Gifts, 7 Public Square, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 21. Luke will be reading the book during that time, so children are most welcome.

Statler is co-owner with her sisters, Mary Kay Pitts and Barbara Rogers, of Three Sisters Books & Gifts. She is a graduate of Shelbyville High School and Ball State University and received a doctorate in humanistic studies from the University at Albany in Albany, N.Y.

Book Sense is a network of more than 1,000 independent bookstores across the country and Puerto Rico. Book Sense sponsors a national gift certificate program and tries to build more awareness and interest in independent bookstores. Three Sisters Books & Gifts, 7 Public Square, is a Book Sense bookstore.