Bluffton couple write the book on educational entertainment
By JENNY LIM
Published Wednesday, July 30, 2008
If a storybook were ever to be written about children's book authors Bernice and Andy Tate, it might just be one of those "Choose Your Own Adventure" novels.
Like the popular juvenile series in which every page turn leads to an unexpected event, the Tates have lived a life of twists -- one that's steered them to start up a children's book publishing project from their home in Bluffton.
The husband-and-wife team have produced three original, illustrated books and are working on a fourth for Storybooks-4-Kids, their 18-month-old publishing venture. Though they began composing original tales for their son long before they retired to the Lowcountry, the Tates say they've reached a stage in life where they feel they've got a message or two to tell -- and they want to share them with today's youth.
They write children's books focused on four central themes: multiculturalism, acceptance, bullying and the power of diversity.
"We have a generation of (young) people around the globe who are having a hard time understanding this world we have left for them," Andy said.
So he and Bernice hope their parables about a family of worms, a pushy elephant and an impetuous Dalmatian will give children a little guidance.
EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT
If he had to tell their love story, Andy said he'd summarize it like this: "City boy meets country girl ... and releases the genius within!"
Bernice grew up in Sheldon (near Beaufort) and Andy in New York City, where the pair eventually met at a Halloween party in 1968. They celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary this month.
Over their years together, Andy said he worked in global finance and information technology on Wall Street, but it was his and Bernice's work creating educational entertainment for kids that brought him
fulfillment.
In 1972, the Tates said there was little quality television to entertain their son, Derek. So Andy started coming up with his own short stories and dramatic playtimes -- utilizing toys for props -- to amuse their child. That activity inspired the father to create an animated musical, and eventually he and Bernice teamed up to produce an arts and education home video series for children. In 1974, the couple started a traveling educational theater troupe called PWIFTOWN USA -- the first four letters referring to paper, water, imagination and flour, the key elements for crafting the life-sized puppets the performers used to entertain and teach kids in and around New York City about the cultural
arts.
"We've done so many things on this journey, but it's always involved the arts," Bernice said.
They retired and moved to Bluffton in 2006, but Bernice hadn't let go of an idea of turning a lullaby she wrote for one of their videos into a children's book. Andy thought the notion was silly, but Bernice was persistent. And she -- and eventually her husband -- found a new calling to create books that might compel students to read.
"We both have this need to educate children," Bernice said.
'IT'S OK TO BE DIFFERENT'
Their self-published books contain the kinds of messages they hoped they imparted to their son, who is now a doctor. "He was a nerdy kid," Bernice said, noting he kept a lot of pencils on him in school.
The mother wanted her son to know "it's OK to be smart ... it's OK to be different," she said.
That lesson ended up being the message of the Tates' first book, "The Wormleys," about a family of worms (inchworms, bookworms and more) that appreciate their differences and hope others will, too.
In August 2007, they held their first book signing of "The Wormleys" at the Red Piano Too gallery in Beaufort.
They present a lesson about bullying in "What the Elephant Forgot" and a teaching on safety in "How the Dalmatian Got Its Spots." They are working on another book, "FunSpell," which will be focused on the power of imagination.
Andy does the digital illustrations for the books, while Bernice drives story concepts. The Tates hope to produce at least two books a year and eventually use proceeds to benefit a children's cause.
They are trying to recall all the original stories they used to tell their son, Derek -- in those "pre-computer days," Andy said -- to come up with more subjects for Storybooks-4-Kids.
Derek wrote introductions to each of the Tates' three books, and he is likewise at the forefront of the couple's thoughts. "The Wormleys" is dedicated "To Derek, for giving our lives meaning, purpose and reason for being."
They consider their son their editor, too. "He signs off on everything," Bernice said with a laugh.