Description

My Cape Cod Magic is a beautifully-illustrated early-reader written by Cape Cod residents Chris and J. Bean Palmer, author of the popular Little Cape Cod Witch book series, andillustrated by award-winning artist Jenny Kelley. Written in a poem format, the book introduceschildren to reading through fine art, picture-postcard images of classic Cape Codscenes, each connected to a sentencefrom the poem. The book is based on an engagingpoem, reminiscent of children’s picture books more commonly found a centuryago, but also refreshingly today.

My Cape Cod Magic arose from a visit with the Palmers’ granddaughter Emelia. The four-year-old expressed frustration at not being able to read. This gave Ms. Palmer an idea. “I had written the Little Cape Cod Witchmagical adventures for middle-graders. It was clear Emelia loved beautifulpictures and rhyme and the rhythm of words.I think most kids do. I know Idid. And I thought it would be helpful andfun to match an engaging poem with classic, picture-postcard images that iconicallycaptured the Cape. When I was learningto read, the images really pulled me in, and I wanted this book to do the same.”The fact that her husband was a fourteenth-generation Cape Codder onlystrengthened her conviction in this project.

Jenny Kelley, the illustrator, isthe art department head at Pope John Paul II High School in Hyannis, and holdsa BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her paintings have appeared in Cape Cod Lifeand other publications, while her portraits and murals have been displayed fromMassachusetts to Florida. She has alsoillustrated numerous children’s books.
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r“I tried to capture the moods of the different partsof the poem,” Kelley says. “The scenesin this book range from underwater swimming with lobsters to cranberry bogs toharvesting beach plums. The Palmers wanted something a little retro, that harkened back to illustrations of thelate nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, so I was excited to work onthis.”
rA portion of the proceeds of allsales of the book goes to the Cape Cod Cultural Center in Yarmouth foreducational programs for children because, as Ms. Palmer said, “They do awonderful job and we want to help contribute to their mission with thebook.”

ISBN:978-0-578-08282-0
r30pages, saddle stitched, 8.5 x 7
rFifteen,full-color, double-paged illustrations (8.5 x 14 each)
rFor ages 0-6