Inspired by this Confidence, Carol Heyer's Story

One rarely sees Carol Heyer painting without her beloved chihuahua mixes resting upon her lap.  Her love for animals is clear as she types with one hand to allow petting time for woman's best friends, Peanut and Cashew Nut.   Closely exploring her creatures' warm eyes, and funny faces on the picture book pages, introduces us to the real children's author and illustrator.  We know her intimately through the delightfulness and beauty of her stories' animals that often meet Jesus.

"A wise man once said, `Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.' I have been lucky enough to write and paint, and have a career doing the things I love.” 

Peanut and Cashew Nut critique Carol's art

Carol Heyer's words spark reflection, as we help our children discern their futures and choices.  How do we inspire today’s youth to joyfully use their gifts to honor their Creator?

Miss Heyer credits her mother’s imagination as a catalyst for her choices. “My favorite memory, as a child, was the time I spent with my mother creating places for the faeries to dance at night!  We would make furniture out of twigs and flowers.  We used our hands to create a smooth dirt dance floor. My mother would make sure we put out cookie crumbs or pinches of cake on flower petal plates to attract the faeries to our garden at night. The next morning the crumbs were gone, the furniture upturned, and the dance floor scuffled up!  I believed!

It was my mother’s imagination and gift of story telling that started me on my road to writing and illustrating fantasy and children’s art."

Faery gardens and imagination were not the only gifts that bloomed in Carol’s childhood.  Living one’s faith and fostering virtues was encouraged in the Heyer home.  While growing up in the nineteen fifties in California, Carol often read The Lives of the Saints with her mother.  Her basic beliefs were built from religion books, and she still tries to remember and practice those lessons every day. 

Carol was a voracious reader.  She remembers her mother bringing out a thick book filled with exciting children’s stories and beautiful illustrations. It was magic for her to hear her mother read these wondrous tales every night.  But, the most exciting thing contained in those pages were the illustrations done by her grandfather, Harold Hutson.  Carol recalls begging her mom to show her his art before she began any story. She affirms, "In many ways this was what started my interest in art and influenced me to want to be an illustrator.” 

A happy childhood brimming with creativity, literature and faith brought Carol full circle to creating stunning Christian children’s books, loved by millions.  She retells Christian history in The Little Shepherd’s Christmas, The First Christmas and The First Easter, so that Christ’s beautiful stories capture children at the first page.  Vivid and bold illustrations make the Holy Family as beautiful as they should be.  

Humphrey’s First Palm Sunday and Humphrey’s First Christmas were introduced to readers in the last two years.  Heyer’s hero, Humphrey the camel, reminds children that leadership is an important role, but it is Christ who shall receive the greatest honor.  

This “grumpy camel with the marshmallow heart” is a children’s favorite.  He is also Carol’s favorite:  “My favorite book, that I wrote, is Humphrey’s First Christmas.  Not just because it’s my first original story, but because as far back as I can remember, I’ve loved looking at camel’s funny faces.  When I was still in high school there used to be an import/export business in town.  I went there quite often in the afternoons and watched the camels running around in the corral.  Spending all those hours watching silly camels has allowed me to channel my inner camel for the Humphrey books.  I did sketches of their great expressions.  One of my first paintings was from a sketch I did of a camel chewing on an old straw hat.  The import business is gone now and several stores were built in its place.  The shopping center is called Camelot, which I smile at every time I pass, since it was really was once a camel lot!" 

Although illustrating and writing children’s literature was Carol’s first career choice, it was not her first job.  After graduating from Lutheran University in California, Carol spent time in the movie industry as a production designer. She quickly discovered that the fast paced lifestyle of Hollywood was not for her.  Carol became well known for her children’s art. Cowboy and Man in the Moon are just two fantasy art pieces that grace the walls of children’s libraries and bedrooms.  

Despite the success of these artistic endeavors, when asked why illustrating children’s books was what she most aspired to, Carol’s response is an enlightened observation, “I collected picture books, and thought that the amazing art on those pages rivaled any of the works hanging in galleries.”  

Her keen observation is what encouraged Carol to stay the course and take a position as an illustrator for two beloved characters named Sebastian and Hopscotch, a shepherd and his lamb found on the pages of church bulletins.  Katherine Zwers and John Tobin, who owned the rights to these cute characters, asked Carol if she would illustrate a book they wrote about Sebastian and Hopscotch.  She jumped at the chance, selling her project quickly to religious publisher, Ideals Children’s Books.  The result was her first picture book titled A Star in the Pasture. 

The incitement of church bulletin characters becoming popular picture book heroes is great motivation for those young students who spend hours sketching in wide ruled notebooks.  Carol tells children and young adults who dream of writing or illustrating their own book that this milestone in her journey toward children’s literature was an amazing time she will never forget.  

Carol has practical advice for young artists: “Natural ability certainly makes things easier, but when I taught art years ago I came to realize that a student who loved art would often out shine all the others because they never gave up. They would be the ones that worked the hardest to achieve their goals.  More likely than not, they were the ones that finally went into the arts.

   

I’ve also read some amazing stories about children who were inspired by their favorite authors.  I see some of their art that was copied or influenced by a picture book they loved.  In fact, I’ve received pictures of goofy camels, like Humphrey, dressed in outrageous costumes, and beautifully designed blankets." 

Children’s literature touches children's lives, even if they are not dreaming of authoring.  A good book can help children through difficult times.  It entertains, teaches or inspires children to change lives of others.  After reading about Humphrey's blanket gift to Baby Jesus, in Humphrey’s First Christmas , a little girl wrote Carol about her new community service - making blankets for poor children.

Carol Heyer has been blessed.  She was raised in a faithful home.  Imagination and creativity graced generations of her family and Carol found happiness by dedicating her artistic brilliance to children’s literature.  Some of our children may choose the same path; others, a different journey.  Whatever design God plans, may our children be inspired to imagine, experience, and live their faith; so that, someday, they pass on their joy to a world in desperate need of His message, His happiness. 

Carol Heyer's books grace the shelves of The Apostle Bookstore.  Can't find one of your favorites, or don't reside in the Twin Cities?  Judy will order a title when you call her at 952-931-0004.