Local author Fran Dingeman has released her first book, called The Animal Menagerie. The book was officially launched at a celebration for contributors, family, and friends at Saratoga Arts.
The Animal Menagerie, written by Francine Dingeman and illustrated by Marta Maszkiewicz, is an A-to-Z picture book for children ages 4-7. The characters are animals for each letter of the alphabet. The book is written to entertain and educate by introducing dozens of creative new words to a child’s vocabulary. The Animal Menagerie uses rhyme to help children learn and remember new words and animal names, and teaches their meanings through the use of imagery and animal tales.
“Writing a book was something I talked about doing for years,” said Dingeman. “In 2021, I decided to act on it. The Animal Menagerie was created with a goal of elevating a child’s vocabulary while entertaining them in the process. Fabian the Fly takes the young reader on a learning adventure to meet new animal friends and hear of their tales. Parents will enjoy sharing this book with their children, and may even learn something new in the process.”
She continued, “I am grateful to so many who offered their guidance through the self-publishing process, and in particular to Saratoga Arts, who helped make this project financially possible through the Community Arts Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.”
The Animal Menagerie is available for purchase locally at https://shop.celtictreasures.com/ , https://www.gwillikerstoys.com/, and https://saratogaoutdoors.com/ in downtown Saratoga Springs, as well as at https://www.allerdice.com/ in Malta. In addition, books can be purchased through the author’s website www.francinedingeman.com, designed by Brand Science NY. The website includes a list of local events where Dingeman will be in-person throughout the holiday season with books for purchase including a Local Author Fair at the Saratoga Farmer’s Market at the Wilton Mall on Saturday, December 16 from 9-1 p.m.; Nacre’s performance of the Nutcracker at the Egg in Albany on Saturday, December 16, prior to the 7:30 performance; and Saratoga Outdoors, 490 Broadway, on Sunday, December 17, from noon to 3 p.m. The new release retails for $21.99 plus tax
Francine Dingeman is a first-time author who passionately enjoys the art of rhyme and has a deep appreciation for the creative use of words. She is the owner of the event development/marketing company, Network Saratoga ( https://www.networksaratoga.com/), and General Manager of Loud Media (Star Radio 93.3FM and Lake George Radio 93.5FM).
Originally a “Jersey Girl” from Secaucus, NJ, Dingeman lives in Saratoga Springs where she enjoyed raising her three children and now delights in sharing her beautiful surroundings with her five grandchildren, all of whom reside in the area.
The completion of this book is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Dingeman and reaffirms her belief that the possibilities in life are endless. Visit www.francinedingeman.com for more information. Follow The Animal Menagerie on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAnimalMenagerie