By Stephanie Healion
;)
Lyndah Ray reading her first book “Ladybugs 3” to the kids in front of the fireplace at Starbucks.On Sunday, November 13th, local Smithtown author Lyndah Ray held a reading and book signing at Starbucks on Main Street. The kids sat on couches and a special carpet. Some kids drank hot chocolate and ate lollipops while enjoying Ray reading her book, “Lady Bugs 3”. There were ladybug-coloring pages available for the kids to color however they wanted. Some children autographed their artwork that was then hung on the walls of Starbucks. Each child who purchased a book had it autographed by Ray.
After Ray read “Lady Bugs 3”, she did a reading of her new book, Raccoon Cub Sparkey, which had just been released. During the reading, the children offered up their own knowledge of raccoons. Four-year old Jackson announced, “Raccoons also eat fish along with going through the garbage.” Jackson’s older brother, Brady, informed everyone that “raccoons wake up at night and sleep during the day.”
;)
Sparkey, with the book inspired by an actual raccoon.“Raccoon Cub Sparkey” is based on an actual raccoon named Sparkey that Ray became familiar with during her work as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Ray has a special place in her heart for raccoons, believing that they are greatly misunderstood too often seen as scary menaces that come out at night and peruse garbage pails.
“They’re a little startling because we’re unfamiliar with them since they are nocturnal and we don’t see them during the day. You don’t see them quite as frequently as you would see a squirrel, but you’ll see them more now because more buildings are going up and all that.” Ray has had up to 175 raccoons in rehabilitation at one time. She eventually released them in groups at locations approved by the NYSDEC.
Ray is a seasoned actress, currently appearing on the show Louie CK on FX. “Lady Bugs 3”, her first book, was released in December of 2005. “I’ve believed in children’s literature even as a child. Children come from a genuine space, they learn and they’re easier to teach. So I share things with them that I know of the planet and nature. Because they are the future of our planet. The future of the planet is in their hands, that’s why I tell them to love our planet Earth, and all creatures large and small. Anything from a bug to a raccoon to an elephant. Everything has its place.”
Lyndah Ray reading with Lauren Modzelewski, 9, of Smithtown
As for any future endeavors, Ray has one or two ideas in the works. “Right now I’m considering writing a line of children’s chapter books. Something I’m tossing around is Johnny Ripper, and if it’s green he won’t eat it. He has all these ideas, about hiding his peas under his mashed potatoes. I’m working on him. There’s another one about a dog that came out of a pound, he was in the pound for a while and he was sad and now he’s in a happy family. Those are just some things.”
Ray is not only the author; she also illustrated the book with a little help from her mother. The book is filled with rich colors, each page standing out from the last. “I did all the illustrations in pen and ink. I got sick and was in bed, and my mother came and painted it in. Between the two of us we did it. I dedicated this to my mother, S. Ray. So it’s by L. Ray and S. Ray.”
Raccoon Cub Sparkey will be released on Amazon.com in 30 days. For now, orders can be made at www.xlibris.com. Lady Bugs 3 can also be found on Amazon. Between the raccoons and the ladybugs, there was plenty of fun and learning for everyone.