The Art & Craft Gallery of Hamburg, 335 State St., will host a book signing for author Kathy Miller, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 28.
Featured Artist of the Month for October, Miller is a member of the Hamburg Area Arts Alliance. Celebrating the release of her fourth book, “Chippy Chipmunk Feels Empathy,” in her series, she will be signing books and offering a free gift with the book’s purchase. Chippy Chipmunk will also be at the Gallery to pose for pictures. All of her publications, plus additional artwork, will be available for purchase.
Miller’s newest installment in her renowned Chippy Chipmunk series, Chippy Chipmunk Feels Empathy, uses the backdrop of nature to teach lessons on diversity and empathy. It was awarded a Gold Medal by the Mom’s Choice Awards.
When Chippy Chipmunk meets a unique chipmunk, he learns to feel empathy and show kindness. In Chippy’s first encounter with Harriet, she explains that a flood destroyed her burrow, so she is searching for a new place to dig. She asks for help, but Chippy refuses and chases her away. He is preoccupied with his goal of having a record-setting day collecting acorns, and he is skeptical that the newcomer is a chipmunk since she has no stripes. Chippy’s friends show him that there is diversity in every species.
“Diversity makes the world more beautiful,” a blue peacock tells Chippy. “My friend and I may look different on the outside, but inside we are the same,” adds a peacock that is an all-white variety.
Chippy’s friends help him to understand empathy and the need to show compassion. Chippy imagines what it would be like to be other wildlife. He thoughtfully observes other creatures. He pretends to be like them and echoes their calls as a way to develop empathy. He pictures himself in Harriet’s situation. The light of a new day gives Chippy a fresh beginning. Feeling empathy changes his heart. He helps Harriet build a new burrow and shares his acorns with her. The two become friends.
The book’s themes include every species has diversity. Diversity makes the world more beautiful. Another theme is we are alike on the inside even if different on the outside, as well as there is more than first meets the eye. The book also teaches how we can feel empathy by remembering a time we had a similar experience or by imagining how another feels. Feeling empathy leads to showing kindness.
This book, the fourth in its series, also contains notes on ways to develop empathy in children, a comparison of sympathy to empathy, and fun facts about the wildlife in the book. It can be used as a classroom teaching tool.
Miller is a teacher, cellist, author and award-winning nature photographer. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kutztown University with bachelor degrees in education and music. In addition to the images found in her multi-award winning children’s books (Chippy Chipmunk Parties in the Garden, and Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden), Miller’s photographs have been published in newspapers and magazines, as well as brochures including Hawk Mountain News and the 2009 Schuylkill County Visitors Guide.
Miller’s photography has also been featured in the Yuengling Brewery Cookbook and Rescuing Wildlife and she won second place in the Schuylkill Allied Artists Competition in photography. Miller’s multi-media nature program has been presented to numerous nature centers, libraries and schools across North America. Highly engaging and interactive, it includes aural and visual components about backyard nature. It also includes tips on photography, as well as video clips and a hands-on burrow building simulation. She is a speaker at various reading and library association conferences. Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Miller now lives in New Ringgold.
The Chippy Chipmunk series is the recipient of 35 national awards.
For more information about the book and the Chippy Chipmunk series, visit www.chippychipmunk.com.
