If you had told me ten years ago that I’d be a self-published author and illustrator of children’s books, I might have believed you. If you told me ten years ago that I’d be painting, drawing, and self-publishing books of toasters, I most definitely would not have believed you. But here we are in 2023, celebrating the release of my second children’s book, Counting Toasters 1 to 10!
I’ve already written a post divulging
the history of my toasters, which can be read here. Once If Only I Had came out, people started
telling me I should have a toaster book of some kind. It didn’t take long for
me to write the first draft of Counting Toasters 1 to 10, although
editing and finalizing the text took a few more months. Hands down the
illustrations were the most time-consuming part.
A small tangent here – but I really
love when I put plans into place that don’t necessarily immediately help me
out, but make my life easier in the future. Like, putting the receipt for my
vehicle tabs right into the folder for next years taxes. I like to say out
loud, “Thanks, Past Haley!” when that happens.
I kept my layout files from If Only I
Had, knowing I wanted the two books to be the same size and reused those for
the pages for the new book. They were already set up, with guides in place for
printing. I was even able to use the same file for the full cover design!
Counting Toasters 1 to 10 is
written for kids under age 5, but adults reading it will get a kick out of it
too. It’s a counting book that counts from 1 up to 10, then from 10 back down
to 1. It features repetition in the text: “One little toaster… Two little
toasters…” as well as rhyme from one page to the next. Each page features a
number of toasters frolicking and just plain living their best lives!
It's a fantastic bedtime story, particularly
because it’s not crazy long and ends with “Good night!” (Although we may be a
little bit biased here at Chateau McAndrews.) That’s right, there’s a sleeping
toaster at the end, and it’s adorable. I remember laughing as I painted
the illustration for that page, which is always a good sign. It just might be my
favorite illustration from the book.
I drew
and painted each illustration with pen & ink, watercolor paints, and
colored pencils on watercolor paper (for a step-by-step breakdown of the process, check out this blog post.)
Prior to publication, I submitted Counting
Toasters 1 to 10 to ReadersFavorite.com for a review. I’m so proud to say, it
earned 5-Stars! According to the review: “Haley McAndrews’s Counting Toasters 1 to 10 has all the
elements of a great picture book. The story is imaginative and funny, and the
language is simple. The flow is logical, and the rhyme and rhythm relaxing. An
award-winning artist, Haley McAndrews’s illustrations successfully set the
tone, focusing mainly on the toasters and their activities. It’s a reminder
that sometimes less can be more. This story is not only intended to teach and
entertain but also to inspire the imagination of young readers."
As
nobody has asked yet, but I’m sure people will: yes, I am planning another
toaster book! It is not a second to Counting Toasters 1 to 10, however.
It is a standalone book, with a working title of “Toaster Haiku: For All Ages”
and will be my first book of poetry (haiku, to be exact!) Here’s a sneak peek:
If you’d
like to purchase a copy of my children’s books, you can find them on Amazon,
Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers - and a few places locally, like
Books and Bakery (Carroll, IA) or the Pearson Lakes Art Center (Okoboji, IA.) I
will also be selling copies in person at my art events (you can see a list of
my scheduled events for the year on my website) – assuming I don’t forget to
bring the books with me again (Thanks, Past Haley!) And of course, for regular
updates on my writing, art, etc. you can follow me on Facebook and Instagram @RedStoneArtStudio.