Reading, Music Go Hand-in-Hand for Author

“Mudgy & Millie” author Susan Nipp beside the Tubbs Hill statue

 — created by Terry Lee — of her characters.Add caption

The elements that make music an important part of brain development in young children enhance their ability to read, do math, and even participate in sports, according to children’s author Susan Nipp, the creator of “Mudgy & Millie” and their new “Adventures” series.
Before she wrote about the moose and the mouse playing hide-and-seek in downtown Coeur d’Alene, Nipp was best known as the co-creator of the Wee Sing books and music series for children. She and collaborator Pam Beall began the series in 1977.
Nipp said that as music educators she and Beall understood the importance of sharing music with young children as their brains are developing.
“Through active music they gain skills in listening, vocabulary, coordination, and self-confidence,” she said. “This early involvement can enhance their future abilities in reading, math, and sports.”
She cites the old children’s song “Head and Shoulders.”
“While singing and moving, language is developing as kids learn their body parts. The words are heard as syllables and the child begins to enunciate the words more clearly, assisting with speech. The words have tone and rhythm and inflection which add to the phonemic awareness.” 
While “Mudgy & Millie” differs from the “Wee Sing” books, music, and videos, the locally based book does have its own song and a video on YouTube that was produced by Jeff Crowe of Bunkhouse Productions and CDA-TV. And there is a new song to go with “Mudgy & Millie Adventures: Australia.”
“Yes, and it is quite fun!” Nipp said. “There is a simple sing-along chorus and the verses tell the story in the book. You learn about the various animals and their silly names. I wrote the song and Brett Sommer created the arrangement and produced it. We have a great group of adults and kids singing on the chorus – including my grandchildren – whose dads sang on the Wee Sing tapes!”
The new song will be performed along with reading the new book at the tenth annual Birthday for Mudgy & Millie at the library on Saturday. Sept. 8 at 11 a.m.
It was observing animals that led to the development of the “Mudgy & Millie” characters, the author said.
“I thought long and hard about this. We live where moose occasionally wander through our yard. I find them fascinating and their appearance actually humorous with their long legs, big snout, and funny dewlap. I love the idea of opposites, thus, the huge moose and tiny mouse. I also love alliteration so found moose and mouse a great beginning for Mudgy Moose and Millie Mouse as a wonderful string of "M" letters.”
Australia was selected as the first subject for the new series, in part, because of its unique wildlife, but Nipp said a family link also played a role.
“I have an Aussie cousin whom we have visited several times,” she said. “Thus, I have been so enamored with the amazing animals of Australia and thought a great beginning country for our “Mudgy & Millie Adventures” series.”
She admits that forthcoming books in the series also give her an opportunity to travel, “for research.”
“We recently returned from Africa and I was enthralled with the beautiful animals,” she said. “I also loved the birds of Costa Rica when we visited. So, am thinking about one of those places as the next destination.”
Charles Reasoner is back as illustrator for the new books and will also return to Coeur d’Alene for the unveiling on Sept. 8, when Nipp reads it publically for the first time.
“Chuck has illustrated more than 400 books for a variety of publishers. He worked with us on several Wee Sing books and I especially liked his illustrations using watercolor. I asked if he would join me on the Mudgy & Millie project using that style and he loved the idea and the project.
Joining Nipp and Reasoner for the party will be sculptor Terry Lee, whose life-size bronzes have become a popular attraction for visitors and residents alike as they walk the 2.5-mile Mudgy Trail through Coeur d’Alene’s downtown area.
All royalties from the “Mudgy & Millie” books benefit the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation, a reflection of the influence libraries have had on the author’s life.
“I grew up in the Hillyard area in Spokane. In grade school I would walk about a mile to the library and always check out lots of books. Afterward I would walk a couple more blocks to the ice cream store for a treat. Appreciating how those days transported me to different worlds as a child makes me want to give that same opportunity to kids today” she said.
Nipp said she hopes that families will also share that opportunity. She said she hopes that next month they will take away from the party, “ultimately, the love of reading. Because kids already know Mudgy and Millie, they can now look forward to spending more time with them. And to go on adventures with them, they need to read about them.”

Susan Nipp’s new book, “Mudgy & Millie Adventures: 

Australia,” will be available for the public for the first time 

on Saturday, Sept. 8. The author, illustrator 

Charles Reasoner, and sculptor Terry Lee will

 be on hand to sign copies of the new book and the original book.