Oh Baby It's a Clear Lake: New Book from Vicki Toups Sheaffer and Kristie Kaiser Frudden

A little less than two years ago, Vicki Toups Sheaffer (Author) and Kristie Kaiser Frudden (Illustrator) collaborated on their first children's board book. This was also the first board board we (Long Overdue Books) ever edited, designed, and published. New territory for all of us!

The book was called Oh Mother How Funny, and was dedicated to Vicki's first grandson, Jack.

Fast forward to late spring/early summer of 2022 and there was a new children's board book in the works. This time it was Kristie with the exciting family update. With the birth of her 1st grandchild (Olivia Rose), Kristie wanted to create a story about baby's summer adventures in and around a beautiful "clear lake."

Kristie and Vicki both live in Minnesota -- the land of 10,000 clear lakes -- but the inspiration for this book actually came from the picturesque town of Clear Lake, Iowa. Clear Lake is home to a big, beautiful lake where Kristie and her husband (Bill) and generations of their family have enjoyed many a summer day. Now the delights of lake life will be shared with their granddaughter.

Kristie magically brought the lake to life through the use of bright watercolors and sunny visuals. Vicki paired the illustrations with a wonderfully flowing story written in stanzas with a 2 & 4 rhyme scheme. Our Creative Director (Annie Leue) brought it all together with front and back cover design, interior page design, and the perfect font choice/placement throughout.

The result? Kristie and Vicki's second book!