A free Story Reading with large zoom screen projection is scheduled at 1pm on Sunday, April 21 for the presentation of Once There Was a Deep Forest by its author Jim Tarvin. The gallery offers a cozy atmosphere for the author and audience to be close making for easy audience participation. The zoom screen is set at a height comfortable for children.

The softcover book with its lovely paintings shows the life of a forest and its residents over a twelve-month period. The illustrations of the animals, insects, trees and streams are simple and appealing to children while explaining to them the importance of caring for and respecting nature, the forest. In his Preface, Author Tarvin tells readers, “I have tried to preserve the amazing beauty of the forest with the words and paintings on these pages…It’s up to all of us…to keep our air, land, and water clean.”

A book signing follows the reading. 

In addition, book illustrator Tessa Schaumburg will be present and have a table set up with the art supplies that she uses for painting and illustrating. She will gladly answer questions from children and other audience members.

Jim Tarvin is a professor emeritus of English at SUNY Orange, a longtime member of the Board of Trustees of the Goshen Public Library, and a father and grandfather. He loves to be outdoors in nature.

Tessa Schaumburg is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz where her focus was Visual Arts. She is also an animal lover. Nature is an integral part of Tessa’s life. Her illustrations demonstrate her passion for protecting the planet and its forests.

Free parking is available in lot #1 which is adjacent to Orange Hall. GPS: 24 Grandview Ave. �"  corner of Wawayanda and Grandview Avenues, Middletown. Questions may be directed to Cultural Affairs at cultural@sunyorange.edu