Review: Louie Finds A Friend by Vivian Zabel

 

Louie Finds A Friend (A Louie the Duck Story)

by Vivian Zabel, illustrated by Jeanne Conway

Review by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Louie is back with another story in Louie Finds A Friend by Vivian Zabel. 

Louie enjoys riding waves, but it is lonely without any friends. He plays with his cousins, but they don’t like riding waves. So, when Mr. and Mrs. Goose’s grandson, Gus, comes to live on their lake, Louie hopes Gus will like him even if he is different.

Zabel wrote the Louie the Duck stories for her grandchildren. Now, in published form, this adorable series shares the adventures of young Louie and his life on the lake. In Louie Finds A Friend, Gus comes to live with his grandparents and Louie is asked to be his friend. Louie is unsure if they will get along, especially because he likes to ride waves, unlike his cousins. What unfolds is a sweet story of friendship. 

Jeanne Conway provides the artwork for Louie Finds A Friend and the other books in the Louie the Duck series. Colorful and filled with tons of detail, these illustrations are the perfect complement to Zabel’s story. From rolling waves to sandy shores to yellow and orange skies as the sun sets on the cove, young readers will be enchanted and turn page after page. 

A charming story of making new friends awaits your young reader in Louie Finds A Friend.

Louie Finds A Friend and other books by Vivian Zabel are available at www.4rvpublishing.com and other online retailers. 

Artist Spotlight: Jeanne Conway

     Jeanne Conway joined 4RV Publishing on September 27, 2016. She has created the images for several books since then, several of which have won awards. Her books for 4RV include Louie Finds a Friend - A Louie the Duck Story (2nd in the series) and Wave Excitement - A Louie the Duck Story (1st in the series) by Vivian Zabel; This Isn't My Bed! by Mike McNair;  Storm Sentinel by Tony LoPresti; Merry Tilda: A Winter Fairy Tale and Wild, Wild Wind by Jodi Heaton Hearst; and, her first for the company, Kindertransport: a child's journey Kena Sosa.

     Jeanne, an artist, illustrator, children’s book writer, and art educator lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The following is a portion of an interview from the Kansas/Missouri SCBWI since she was the featured illustrator, where she talks about two books illustrated for 4RV:

Question: What would be your dream project? Or what was your favorite project?

Reply: Recently I illustrated a children’s book about the wind called The Wild, Wild Wind by Jodi Heaton Hurst.  The main characters are swept up by the wind and this was terrific for me as I could play around with the various figures (human and animal) as they move through the air. The locale was in the country so I could use a palette of daylight colors.  It was so much fun to do that book.

Question: What’s next for you? Any upcoming book releases we should be on the lookout for?

Reply: Louie Finds A Friend (A Louie The Duck Story) by Vivian Zabel is another children’s book featuring the ongoing adventures of Louie the duck and how he finally makes a friend who understands him.

For so many years I’ve loved art in all kinds of medium. I’ve painted in oil and acrylic but found that watercolor was the one I loved the most. As a child in St. Louis, Missouri, my mother would often take all of us to the Art Museum. And I have to thank both of my parents for the endless paper, pencils, and paints which they provided for those of us who loved to draw and paint.

I got a degree in Art Education from Webster University in St. Louis and went on to teach art for 35 years in St. Louis and London, England.  In 2013 I started illustrating children’s books part-time and when I retired from art teaching in 2016 I started full time illustrating.  I’m a member of SCBWI and would highly recommend this organization to anyone who is interested in writing and/or illustrating children’s books.

My husband Tom and I have been blessed with three children: Adam, Julie, and Suzanne. I am so grateful to them for their constant encouragement for my art.

You can view my art on my website, http://www.jeanniespaintings.com or on my portfolio page on the SCBWI website.

     Thank you, Jeanne, for bringing 4RV books to life with your art.