Sun and hats come hand in hand

Illustrator Dee Texidor shows A Simply Spectacular Hat to children from Three Bears Cottage Pre-School.

Trevor Veale

DORRIGO-based graphic designer and illustrator Dee Texidor was nearly invisible among the fancy paper hats on young heads yesterday at the launch of A Simply Spectacular Hat, the new Sunsmart book launched by the Cancer Council.

Mrs Texidor provided the illustrations for the book aimed at pre-schoolers.

Written by well-known children’s author Libby Gleeson, A Simply Spectacular Hat is set in Miss Fabulous Fay’s pre-school as the rain clears away and the sun comes out so children can play outdoors.

The book will be supplied to all NSW Sunsmart pre-school and long day care centres like Three Bears Cottage in Coffs Harbour, the site of yesterday’s launch.

The artist, who has illustrated other picture books including Dust by Colin Thompson and the Matilda Mud Puddle series by Gordon Winch, said creating the illustrations for her first ‘official’ picture book was great fun and she had her whole family involved.

The children’s drawings in the book are the early work of her daughter, Rosabella, now seven and ‘the boy who forgot his hat’ was modelled on her son, Connor, now 14, ‘and still typical behaviour’, Dee Texidor said.

Her mother-in-law created the real-life spectacular hat that features in the story.

The hat itself did not make the launch after being sat on by two seven-year-olds.

Copies of A Simply Spectacular Hat can be obtained through the Cancer Council and its website www.cancercouncil.com.au/sunsmart.

For more information on Dee, visit http://www.deetexidor.com/.