Family creates counting book for little ones Family creates counting book for little ones (August 18, 2004)

By Jane Knoerle
Almanac Staff Writer

The cover of a new children's book -- "In the Garden with the Little Weeds, a Counting Book for Little Ones" -- lists Craig Weisenfluh of Menlo Park as the author. Make that Craig, and Stacia, Lauren, Brooke and Gillian Weisenfluh.

The self-published first book by Mr. Weisenfluh is a family affair. Dad (Craig) wrote it; mom (Stacia) does the marketing; and Lauren (daughter) worked on layout and editing. Lauren's great with punctuation, says her dad, crediting her "great education at Las Lomitas (school district)." Brooke and Gillian also gave their kids' points of view.

Lauren is a sophomore at Menlo-Atherton High School. Brooke is in eighth grade at La Entrada School, and Gillian is in third grade at Las Lomitas School.

"In the Garden with the Little Weeds" was inspired by family time stories that started when Lauren was a little girl. "We've always liked to make up stories together," says Mr. Weisenfluh.

Why a book on weeds? "Maybe that's the rogue spirit in me. Just what is a weed anyway? It's a matter of perspective, finding beauty in anything," says Mr. Weisenfluh.

Finding beauty in the little book is easy, especially the stunning color illustrations by Julie Freeman of Oregon, whom Mr. Weisenfluh found through the Academy of Art in San Francisco. "I've worked with a lot of artists in my business," says Mr. Weisenfluh, who says he "writes software."

The author and the artist bridged the distance between Oregon and California by telephone and e-mail.

The book is written in rhyme for children ages 3 to 11, although it seems a child at 11 should be way past learning to count to 10.

Small children may especially like the little creatures almost hidden in the pictures. A ladybug peeks around a rock, earthworms crawl through tunnels, and an ant clings to a tulip leaf.

Family pets also appear in the book. The Weisenfluh's family dog and cat illustrate the back cover. Their pet rabbits, Lopsie and Millie, appear on another page.

The "all in the family" book took six months to complete. It sells for $11.95 and is available at Kepler's Books and A Bed of Flowers in Menlo Park, The Linden Tree in Los Altos, and Amazon.com. It is published by B'Squeak Productions. "B'Squeak" is a pet name for daughter Brooke.

Do the Weisenfluhs see another book in their future? "We might go into the ABCs, maybe (illustrated) with flowers, says Mr. Weisnfluh. "We had so much fun doing this."

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