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Up Close: Counting on Kim Parker

By Karyn M. Peterson -- Gifts and Dec, 5/1/2007 2:57:00 PM

Move over Clifford—Kim Parker Kids is becoming the Scholastic preschool property to watch! Since its 2005 debut, artist/designer Kim Parker’s exuberant Counting in the Garden has intrigued fans with its stylized watercolor garden and countable creatures hidden among the lush blooms.

And as a natural inspiration for licensed product, launched in ‘06 as a single plush for each character—Rudy (cat), Romeo (rabbit), Magalina (dog) and Trey (turtle)—is now expanding to hand puppets and plush backpacks, more than doubling the size of the collection.

That’s only the beginning, say Parker, licensor Scholastic Media, and licensee SE Distribution, who markets plush under its Sidekicks label. “We are pursuing additional product categories including room decor, accessories, stationary, apparel, toy and board games,” Leslye Schaefer, senior vice president of Scholastic Media, tells Playthings. “Media is also under consideration.”

Parker herself—who is best known for her fine art, textile and dinnerware collections—treasured the process of creating her first book for kids, and hopes to pursue all avenues for tie-ins. First up will be dedicated displays at Barnes and Noble timed for Mother’s Day, followed by book signings and possibly charity events. Animation will be next on the horizon, as well as a book sequel and some new characters, Parker says.

In the meantime, Playthings caught up with the artist/designer—and now kids' author—last month to find out more about her experience creating of her first-ever children’s book, the development of the first licensed product, and her hopes for the property’s future. Here is our exclusive interview with Parker in its entirety.

Q: What was your inspiration for Counting in the Garden?

Parker: I wanted to create a children's book that would allow me to paint freely, the same way I paint for the home design market. A counting book seemed like the perfect vehicle to maintain that freedom. As it didn't involve much text, I was free to paint gardens like I always do, this time with creatures inside of them. The idea of hiding creatures amid the flowers came to me one day when I thought about how our cat Rudy liked hiding under furniture and sneakily darting out. I thought it would be kind of funny to hide different animals and insects in my patterns, and give kids a little bit of a challenge finding them.

Q: What was it like working on a children's book?

Parker: Throughout the time I worked on this book, I will admit that there was a sweet feeling knowing that the book would wind up in the hands of small children. There was something wonderful and pure in this creative process. It is a gift to create a magical and healing space for a child, a pretty beautiful opportunity. I didn't take this gift for granted for a moment while illustrating my book. I felt feelings of tenderness as well as a sense of joy and playfulness as I pushed my brushes.

Q: Did you expect the book to be received so well? Has the response surprised you?

Parker: When the book was finished and went into production, I knew I had done my part and painted every page with love. At that point I kind of "let go" and waited to see what would come. When PBS endorsed it, and it received positive reviews, naturally, I was thrilled. But what is most meaningful to me are the emails from teachers and parents who have bought the book and shared their feelings with me about it. I have letters from teachers who have designed art projects around the book, and letters from grandparents who want to know when the next book is coming out! Parents have opened up and shared some very intimate moments with me and I never could have anticipated such a meaningful and touching response.

Q: Could you describe the characters? Do you have a personal favorite?

Parker: Rudy the Cat was our red tabby cat who could never shake being sneaky. I had to make him number one in the counting book, and felt he was the perfect opener. Magalina the dog was named after our beloved golden retriever Maggie. Maggie was a kind of sage. As a pup, however, she liked trampling over my mother's flower beds, which used to drive my mother crazy, and so I decided that the page devoted to her—were she is pulling up some flowers in the garden—would be a kind of private joke. Trey the turtle is a kind of "spectator" on life as I see it. He cannot move quickly, thus, he has to live a patient life, and bears witness to what is going on in the garden at ground level. Romeo the rabbit is the creature who simply cannot help himself. He sees love in everything around him, and is the true romantic. I feel special about them all, because they all possess their own colorful personalities.

Q: Will there be more books with these characters? Will you make it a series?

Parker: I am currently working on a second book with these characters in it, as well as introducing a few new creatures. I can see what fun it would be to create a series based on these characters. They are all so unique, and I feel I could communicate a lot of important messages through their sweet natures.

Q: How did the plush product lines develop? Was it an easy process?

Parker: Plush toys seemed like the most natural first product to develop off the illustrations in the book. I worked with Sidekicks, who instantly recognized how unique and adorable the product could be. It then evolved into plush puppets, and plush backpacks, all of which are incredibly soft and irresistible.

Q: Are you interested in pursuing additional tie-in merchandise?

Parker: The landscape is so vast, I wouldn't know where to begin! From children's bedding to fashion to videos and animation to games and room decor, we are discussing all of the above. There is also a wall art collection with Editions Limited now available, and Spode has already started developing children's dinnerware from the book's illustrations. It's all very exciting!

Q: How did the Barnes & Noble spring displays come about?

Parker: Barnes and Noble will be carrying my books as well as all of the plush toys in all of their stores starting in April, and creating a lovely display and promotion around them…I look forward to visiting their stores and seeing the program in the children's book section.

Q: What's next for you? Do you have promotional programs or events lined up?

Parker: There are going to be book signings as well as possible charitable events ahead. The next thing on the horizon with regard to my children's brand will be animation and my second book, as well as meetings to discuss new partnerships for some of the products we are interested in developing. There are so many wonderful possibilities, and I want to focus on growing this program with the kind of integrity that my adult design collections have. I want everything to be as beautiful as it can be, and make both child and parent feel like cherishing it.

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