There’s a new kid on the block in children’s fiction, and he’s part owl, part llama. Yep, you heard that right.
Owl + Llama = Owllama
Meet Ollie the Owllama. He’s the adorable main character in local mom Kim Wilson’s first book, Ollie the Owllama. She has written this humorous early chapter book with {beautiful} illustrations by Ashley Teets, and both will be at Carmel Country Club next Sunday, July 8 for a book signing and party to launch the adorable book.
Now, I know it’s H-O-T out there, and it’s only July, but that’s just it. It’s JULY. We’re halfway to Christmas 2018. This book launch is the PERFECT chance to stock up on some Christmas gifts, birthday surprises, and maybe even a gift for your kids’ teachers for next year (what better way to butter them up show them some love then with a new, signed copy to add to their library…perhaps paired with a cupcake?!).
Here’s how the book came to be:
Inspired by Wilson’s daughters’ love for owls and llamas, Ollie, the main character, has to manage the traits of spitting like his llama Daddy and hooting like his owl Mama. When he is upset, especially when given food he does not like, it all comes out together as one loud “Pah-hoo!” that is consistently mistaken as a sneeze. His frustration grows, as does his hunger, as he navigates through his day of “pah-hoos” and uneaten grass, nettles and mice, when all he craves is a delicious stack of pancakes. Faced with solving his problem of being misunderstood, as well as wanting to fill his empty tummy with pancakes, Ollie resolves his issues with honesty and receives a pleasant and unexpected surprise of acceptance and understanding as a result.
I mean, don’t we all just want to fill our empty tummies with pancakes? I identify with Ollie already!
Kim grew up with a passion for reading and writing, but it wasn’t until she and her two daughters, Lilly and Emma, were playfully chatting one day that the furry and feathery Owllama was born. Kim tell us that they were talking about their favorite animals and joked that it would be fun if the two were combined. After a few sketches and some brainstorming sessions, the Ollie as we know him today developed into a cute, likeable owllama (could an owllama be unlikeable? Don’t think so).
Photo credit: Anne Willette Photography
This is Kim’s first book, and we’re sure we’ll be reading much more from her. Head on over to Carmel Country Club this Sunday, meet Kim and Ashley, and pick up a few copies of Ollie the Owllama. We {love} our Smarty Mompreneurs! Way to go, Kim!
Event Details
Ollie the Owllama Book Launch
Sunday, July 8, 2018
2 pm – 4 pm
Carmel Country Club
4735 Carmel Road
Charlotte, NC 28226
