Young Francestown authors pen ‘The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant’

A page of “The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant” by the “Young Authors of Francestown.”

A page of “The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant” by the “Young Authors of Francestown.” STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

An illustration from “The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant.” 

An illustration from “The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant.”  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

From left, Violet Hardwick, Sophie Wilshire and Kylie Hardwick are three of the authors of “The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant.”

From left, Violet Hardwick, Sophie Wilshire and Kylie Hardwick are three of the authors of “The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant.” STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

A pivotal moment in “The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant.” 

A pivotal moment in “The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant.”  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

”The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant”  was created in the Francestown Recreation Commission young authors program. 

”The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant”  was created in the Francestown Recreation Commission young authors program.  COURTESY PHOTO

By JESSECA TIMMONS

Monadnock Ledger Transcript 

Published: 12-25-2024 12:03 PM

Modified: 12-25-2024 12:05 PM


Young Francestown authors and illustrators Clementine Byers, Violet Hardwick, Marigold Byers, Kylee Hardwick, Emile Byers, Skyler Mafera, Gideon Byers and Sophie Wilshire may soon see their book, “The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant,” on the shelves at select Walmart stores.

“We’ll see what happens,” said Francestown Recreation Commission Chair Bob Bitterli. “They reached out to us, and they are placing the books in 50 Walmart test stores. If they sell through, they’ll order more.” 

Bitterli said none of the test stores are in New Hampshire, but “The Three Girls and Jerry the Elephant” will be distributed around the country. The book is also available at at amazon.com/Three-Girls-Jerry-Francestown-Authors/dp/B0DG4BMGH7

Any profits from book sales will be donated to the Francestown Recreation Department.

The book came about through a Francestown Recreation Commission young authors children’s program, which met at the George Holmes Bixby Library from February through April.

Bitterli, who is a published author, and Eddie Hardwick organized the program. 

“I wanted to get the kids writing. I know they do great work writing in the schools, but this was a different kind of a project, all about their creativity, and we got to teach them about the publishing process, ” Bitterli said. 

Bitterli and Hardwick introduced the concept of collaborating on a picture book to the group of elementary students “and just let them go,” Bitterli said.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Red’s in Jaffrey reopens after fire Tuesday morning
Jimmie Walker performing at The Park Theatre in Jaffrey
Earl Schofield shows his art of wax at Peterborough Town Library
Morphs & Milestones in Francestown grew out of parents’ desire to help their daughter
BUSINESS: Peterborough Diner keeps the old while embracing the new
Viewpoint: L. Phillips Runyon III – The words of one president

“It was really an interesting process to see them work through it. There were a whole lot of ideas out there, and it took several weeks for the group to figure out where it was going to go,” Bitterli said. “We didn’t help them with the story. We just guided them a little bit in the beginning, but it was all their ideas. We just watched them figure it out.” 

Bitterli said he was more involved with the writing side of the process, while Hardwick assisted with the art.

“Some of the children were drawn to the illustration portion of the process, while others enjoyed creating the story,” Bitterli said.  “The only part we really helped with was the cover.” 

After the young authors completed writing and illustrating the story, Bitterli found a publisher and got the book into production. 

The book tells the story of three characters, Skylar, Kylee and Sophie (named for three of the book’s authors), who get lost in the woods and are rescued by a friendly elephant named Jerry. Jerry brings the three girls to the zoo, where they meet Larry, a friendly zookeeper. The girls then have to figure out how to find their way home. 

Sophie said writing and illustrating the book was “really fun.” 

Following the young writers program, the Recreation Commission ran a young artists program, where children created art which was then displayed around town. 

“That wasn’t as permanent as the book, but the kids really enjoyed it,” Bitterli said.