Contributed by Kerry Nelson, The Musk ox Farm
Jan Brett is the New York Times #1 bestselling artist/author of over 35 picture books, which have sold over 42 million copies combined. Her books have been chosen as “Best Children’s Books of the Year” by The New Yorker, Parents, Redbook and others. Brett’s exquisite art is universally recognized as being among the finest in children’s books today. In the last 30 years, she has been celebrated for her well-known wintry tales like The Mitten, The Three Snow Bears, Gingerbread Baby and more.
Needless to say, when Jan Brett landed on the doorstep of the Musk Ox Farm, we could not have been more thrilled! It was just our luck that her family had moved to Alaska, and on a visit to see them, she found us. After a tour, she became hooked on musk oxen (we can’t say that we blame her) and she became a supporter through our Friends of the Musk Ox program, even adopting her own musk ox. This gave us the incredible opportunity to build a relationship with her, setting the wheels in motion for what would become her next book: Cozy; the story of-you guessed it-a musk ox!
“In COZY, a group of clever animals find an unusual but warm and furry home during Alaska's long winter. Cozy stars Cozy, the softest musk ox in Alaska, with the warmest fur you ever did feel. When a storm hits while he's separated from his family, he starts to feel lonely -but not for long. As the snow piles up, animals start to notice just how warm and cozy Cozy really is! One mama lemming has a bright idea: maybe the best place to spend the winter is under Cozy's fur! As more and more animals burrow in, Cozy adds to the house rules: quiet voices, gentle thumping, claws to yourself, no biting and no pouncing. That seems easy enough, until the lemmings, snowshoe hare, snowy owl, arctic fox and wolverine begin to bicker. Luckily, signs of spring soon appear, and that means Cozy can find his herd and his new friends can head to their summer homes. But not before promising to get cozy with Cozy next year! Jan Brett brings a new lovable character to life through this gorgeous tale of sharing, found families, and living in harmony.”
Jan does meticulous research for all of her books, and this one was no exception. The Musk Ox Farm was called on to help through her process of writing and drawing as she brought the story of Cozy to life. She wanted to be sure that she was correctly capturing the physical characteristics of musk oxen and what makes them unique. At one point, we even had a lengthy discussion over the ecology of the tundra floor. The result is another beautifully written book and true work of art. We are absolutely honored to have worked with Jan on this project, and getting to know what a gem of a human being she is beyond her talents.
To celebrate the upcoming release of Cozy, you can get your copy through the Musk Ox Farm:
• PRE-SALE: order now, and receive your copy after it’s released on October 20th
• ONLINE: bit.ly/cozymuskoxfarm order from our online shop for shipping to your door, or for curbside pick-up at the farm.
• IN STORE: pick up your copy at the farm from our gift shop after October 20th. Call to set up an appointment, or visit muskoxfarm.org to see our hours! 907-745-4151
We’re also still open for tours. Head to muskoxfarm.org/visit for details and to book your tour with us. Come and say hello to the musk oxen that Jan Brett fell in love with! To learn more about Jan, visit janbrett.com.