Out of thin air magic is made. The white emptiness of a piece of paper becomes a wonderland waiting to be explored. Soon an idea becomes tangible, a dream becomes something we can touch and our imagination turns into something real to be enjoyed by people everywhere.
Natasha Ferrill, the author of The Lemonman, was born in a small town called Deep River in Ontario, Canada. Just after turning three she begged her mother to teach her to read. With The Cat in the Hat Natasha began her journey into the world of reading. The writing came next and she has been writing ever since.
“I was a writer from the very beginning.” Natasha says and writers everywhere are nodding in agreement at this statement. Because, they say the same thing.
How does a character like the Lemonman come to be? How exactly is something like that born? The answer: In dreams. A three year old Natasha Ferrill had a dream about a lemon wedge sitting at a table having Christmas dinner. Through the years the story grew and changed and as Natasha grew, so did The Lemonman. He went from a lemon wedge to a full lemon and in her late 20′s Natasha decided to write the series completely in rhyme. A risk that readers were thank her for and congratulate her for.
Natasha Ferrill on The Lemonman:
“The idea of The Lemonman series has been floating around in my head my entire life – since I was three years old! I have so many variations of the stories and the characters from throughout the years, trying to perfect the idea and build the imaginary town of Applenook and its residents! Finally, in my late twenties the idea came to fruition and I wrote and published the first book in the series, A Picnic, a Toad and Swampwater Road which is available now through amazon.com, my website www.thelemonman.com (launching in August) and local bookstores in my hometown of Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
I have so many ideas for future books and characters, and with the second book already written, illustrations are scheduled to begin this fall. The second book, A Party, Some Rain and Wiggleworm Lane, takes The Lemonman on an adventure with Wormington the Third, and the worm residents of Applenook. In this story, the worms become quite a nuisance and cause rainy-day chaos in the town of Applenook!
“And never trust a worm, my friend, even if he is quite nice,
For a worm request will always come with an unexpected price.”
My hope is that someday I can have multiple books published in The Lemonman series, and kids around the world can grow up with these characters in their lives, just as I did with so many classic children’s book characters throughout my childhood. Children need books for so many reasons – not just for fun and learning, but also for a sense of stability in their lives, for comfort, and for the ability to escape into an unknown and magical world where a white rabbit runs late, a boy and his bear play in the forest and a lovable lemon learns about life.”
A talent like Natasha Ferrill has is one that does not come often and I am honored to have been responsible for her first review. The Lemonman is a unique and wonderful series and personally, I am excited for the second book.
Children will quickly become attached to Mr. Lemonman and his friends. With repeat appearances of characters in each story children are given familiar faces to look forward to meeting again. Like many writers the issue of literacy is close to the surface. Ahgoo Review was created in hopes to build readers for life. Natasha has a similar mission.
“The Lemonman series is filled with challenging vocabulary and sophisticated concepts that will inevitably stir up questions for the young reader.” Natasha states. The story not only has rich vocabulary but integrates other elements of learning that children will learn from. Time and weather are also discussed in the story. When the story begins The Lemonman is waking up, when it ends we find him back in bed ready for sleep. It is the perfect story for bedtime reading.
A look inside this book is a preview of the authors imagination. I can see The Lemonman as a plush character available in stores everywhere. I can see action figures of him and his friends and playhouses designed around Applenook. I see this series and I immediately think of Mickey Mouse. Not because of similarities but because of the unique nature of the book and the characters within. Mickey Mouse is simply an example of what one single person with an active imagination is capable of. As a writer I was inspired after reading The Lemonman. The rhyming verse and sophisticated rhythm caused me to pick up my laptop and start writing like a madwoman. If a children’s book can inspire a 32 year old woman like that imagine how it will inspire children!
I leave you today with images from The Lemonman: A picnic, a Toad and Swampwater Road. I encourage you to read my review of the book and urge you to purchase it from Amazon. TheLemonman.com will be launched in August so please visit and bookmark for information on Mr. Lemonman.
Related articles
- The Lemonman (ahgooreview.com)
