Hunting season has started in many areas, and we couldn’t be happier. My husband and I grew up in hunting families and spent most winters eating venison, elk, duck, and other wild game. Autumn brings back beautiful memories for us—which is why we created a children’s book about hunting called My First Book of Hunting ABC!
Why a Children’s Book About Hunting?
This book is truly a love letter from my husband and I to the communities we grew up in. For me, that is a small village in Alberta, Canada, nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. My hometown is a breathtaking, magical place filled with farms, ranches, and vast expanses of wilderness.
My husband grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He and his family are die-hard Packer fans and avid hunters. It’s safe to say the same for many Wisconsin residents. Hunting is a way of life, and a time-honored tradition passed down through generations.
About a year ago, we noticed that only a few children’s books about hunting existed. We knew we had the background and skills to bring a book like this to life, so we got to work.
How We Created the Book:
My husband started writing the text and quickly decided that the book needed to be written in rhyme. If you’ve ever tried writing in rhyme, you’ll know it’s a fairly difficult task. It took dozens of revisions and plenty of feedback from early readers and editors before we got it right.
Next came the illustrations. I knew the artwork should be cute and appeal to young children, but that was more challenging than anticipated! The animals needed to look realistic enough to be identified but simple enough to look like stuffies. I naturally draw in a realistic style, so my illustrations kept getting too life-like, and I would have to start over.
It took about eight months to complete all the illustrations for the book. Several of them had to be redone two or three times before I was happy.
Layout and design came last. My husband and I spent days looking through other picture books and identifying which fonts would work well with my illustrations. After reading twenty books or so, we finally settled on a couple of fonts. I created colorful camouflage prints and added them to the alphabet letters on each page.
After ordering printed proofs and making final adjustments, our beautiful children’s book about hunting was finished!
All in all, it took about a year to get from idea to publication day.
How It’s Going:
When we set out to create a children’s book about hunting, we knew we were onto something special. Hunting is a topic you don’t see often in picture books, and we knew that there was a need for them. However, the response to our book surprised us.
Right away, we received several glowing reviews from early readers who described it as “delightful and educational” and “a quick, pleasant read-aloud.”
Amazon named My First Book of Hunting ABC a Top New Release in two categories, and it quickly became a bestseller in all three categories.
Librarians, teachers, and hunting outfitters in small towns and rural areas all over North America have told us how much they love the book. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and I am grateful to all the wonderful people who have supported and encouraged us on this journey.
The best part of this entire experience is knowing that children in small towns are reading a book inspired by them. This book is about family, spending time outdoors, and creating memories. It’s a love letter to the people and places that we call home.
About the Book:
My First Book of Hunting ABC
by Andrew McMurdie, illustrated by Dena McMurdie
Ages 3-7 | 34 pages | On sale: 9/5/2023
Explore the world of hunting from A to Z! Join Little Hunter and his dad as they head outdoors with their binoculars. What will they find?
A is for the arrowhead.
You shoot it from a bow.
B is for the big ol’ buck.
He likes to chase the doe.
Little Hunter and his dad venture outside on a hunting trip. Together, they spot animals like moose, grouse, and deer, along with hunting-related items like camo hats and tall tree stands.
Not only does this rhyming alphabet primer teach children their letters, but it also introduces them to the time-honored tradition of hunting. It makes an excellent gift for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. It’s perfect for children ages 3-7 and new parents with an active, outdoor lifestyle.
Backmatter includes quick facts about the animals mentioned in the book.
