The Black Sheep [Hardcover]

Stephan J. Harper (Author), Mary FitzGerald Beach (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2005

Once upon a time there was a black lamb born to a flock of white sheep.

"How unusual," said the mother ewe.

"How very unusual," said her sister.

So begins the story of The Black Sheep, who takes his place in the herd and is loved as the others. But when The Old Ram tells him about a mythical herd of black sheep beyond The Great Forest, the quest begins. Mary Beach's paintings lend enchantment to this tale of adventure and discovery.

Come along...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephan J. Harper was born in Baltimore and has been writing stories and poems for many years. He is the author of the children's picture book, One Christmas Story. Mr. Harper is also co-creator of Basilbaker.com "a literate site for bear lovers" which has been on the Web since May 1998. He lives in Northern California with his wife, Peggy, the creative other-half of the Harper household. The Black Sheep is Mr. Harper's second picture book for children.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Mary FitzGerald Beach has enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a painter and graphic artist over the past five decades. Ms. Beach was born in Southern California and has resided on the Monterey Peninsula since 1968. She studied with Eliot O'Hara while in high school and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Colorado. Ms. Beach also studied with Millard Sheets and Rex Brandt in Southern California. Mary grew up in a family of artists and writers and had a rare "Three Generation Exhibit" in San Francisco with her mother and her three children. Her art affiliations include the Pasadena Society of Artists, the Women Painters of the West, the National Watercolor Society and the Western Serigraph Institute. Ms. Beach has been an exhibiting Carmel Art Association member since 1969 and has served on their board of directors. Her paintings and graphics are in numerous private collections across America and in Japan, China, Ireland, England and France. The Black Sheep is Mary Beach's first picture book for children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Inspire Pr Inc (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974180017
• ISBN-13: 978-0974180014
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,198,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Black Sheep by Stephan J. Harper, May 23, 2005

By 

Evelyn Robinson "Avid reader" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Black Sheep (Hardcover)

"I loved it; the story was touching and would make a great gift to a young person to show them even though we may look different, we all want the same things from life, to be loved and accepted by others.

The illustrations are fabulous; they add richness to the storyline."

This book is timeless and great for kids of all ages!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and elegant, November 12, 2009

By 

Alan Buster (Santa Monica, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Black Sheep (Hardcover)

We bought this book for Mary F. Beach's illustrations, which are at once vivid and dreamlike. (Beach lives in Carmel, CA; we first saw her work at the Carmel Art Association gallery.) We are delighted here with her evocation of nature-- wild and beautiful, but also nurturing and reassuring. Harper's story is adventurous and witty. It's good entertainment, but I think it would also encourage a child to be independent in judgment yet helpful to others.