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Introducton
Hello!
My name is Jodie Campbell. I recently published my first children's book, There Was a Zookeeper. This has been a dream of mine for many years, and with encouragement from family and friends, I am thrilled to see this sweet story of mine come to life for children around the world to enjoy!
This journey has had its ups and downs and I've had incredible experiences, and met many amazing people, along the way. One of those amazing people is a talented illustrator, Alexey Chystikov, who poured his heart and soul into the adorable imagery of the book while living in Ukraine amidst a war.
I am glad you are here, and I appreciate your interest in my work. Please visit often to stay up-to-date on current happenings, school visits, book signings and more! Also, do not hesitate to reach out if you'd like to connect.
Stop by and say hello! I will be at the 2024 Kentucky Book Festival!
2024 KY BOOK FESTIVAL
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
(Lexington, KY)
Saturday, Nov 2
9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Fayette Mall Pop-Up Market
Saturday, Sept. 7
11:00am - 4:00pm
In There Was a Zookeeper, a hungry elephant’s poor choice creates a negative ripple effect throughout the zoo. The alligator’s apples disappear! Blaire Bear’s honeypot is nowhere to be found! All is chaos until Harper Lou Kangaroo begins to cry - then, something amazingly beautiful happens!
Filled with vibrant illustrations and memorable zoo animals, There Was a Zookeeper offers a tale about decision-making and forgiveness. Readers will see that one good choice can lead to a happy ending for all. Children will recognize their favorite zoo animals, and parents will appreciate the subtle positive message.
Here are additional details about the book:
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Includes colorful artwork and whimsical rhymes!
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Brings to life unforgettable zoo animal characters!
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Presents a timeless message, highlighting several moral and ethical lessons for young children.
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Includes discussion questions for parents, teachers, and caregivers to use with their children.
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Designed for toddlers and preschool- and elementary-age children.
Meet
Alexey Chystikov, illustrator
Alexey was born in 1994 in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. In his early twenties, he moved to Kyiv to pursue his studies in Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. He has a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and advertising and a master’s degree in design.
As a child, Alexey was always surrounded by picture books with different styles of illustrations, which he found fascinating! With love for art in his heart, he spent his days studying and observing these pictures. He now specializes in digital illustrations for children’s books and loves to trigger a child’s imagination through his works.
Meet
Jodie Campbell
Jodie Campbell resides in Nicholasville, Kentucky, where she works as a registered nurse for her local health department. A West Virginia native, Jodie moved to the Commonwealth to be closer to her two daughters and granddaughters. They were her inspiration for writing There Was a Zookeeper and often accompany her to book signings and library visits.
Obtaining a degree in graphic design earlier in life laid the foundation that would one day allow her creativity to resurface in the form of writing and creating delightful imaginary, with the goal of sparking a child's imagination. She claims her mind is constantly flowing with ideas and her second book is already in the works!
On a sunny spring day, Jodie enjoys all things related to nature - especially kayaking! On a cool fall day, you can find her cheering on her favorite football teams. Most importantly, she loves spending time with her family and friends, be it a planned dinner out or a spontaneous weekend road trip!
Jodie was one of a select number of authors invited to attend the 2024 Kentucky Book Festival in Lexington, KY. Her book is also available at the Kentucy Artisan Center.
Contact
In The News
Author Visit
Author Visits! I am looking forward to visiting schools in the Fall of 2024 and bringing There Was a Zookeeper to the children of Lexington / Nicholasville, KY. Drop me a line expressing your interest and let's chat!
Want to sponsor an author visit? Let me know If you or your company would like to gift some books for an author visit to children who may not be able to afford one.
How else can I help you? Just send me a message and say Hello!
Jodie's 60-Second Blog
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