Staff writer
A children’s book and coloring book “To the Cider Mill” is available at Central Park Antiques in Marion.
The book’s author, Danna York of Belton, Mo., has been coming to Marion for Old Settlers’ Day since 1979. Her mother-in-law is a former Marion resident. She said Marion is one of her favorite towns.
York homeschooled her children. Trips to Marion always signaled that fall was in full swing — a summer of play was over and her three children needed to get back into a learning mindset. Another yearly event for the family was visiting the cider mill about five miles away from their home. Her children’s amazement when they watched the cider being made and their joy of climbing trees in the orchard were the inspiration for the book.
York also thought about her experience teaching art when she started working on the book eight years ago. She wanted the book to be an outlet for creativity and that is why there are blank pages available for drawings. All of the illustrations in the book are blank, available to be colored any way the reader pleases.
“I try to get them to love art,” she said. “I don’t feel like they’re constricted.”
Over nearly a decade, York has made some modifications to the book, adding some decorations on the outer edges and including a list of autumn activities. She said she has traveled as far as Utah promoting the book. She has planned to read the book over Skype to children in New York. At all of her readings, she gives children a chance to color and draw.