By Clare Marie Celano
Correspondent
If Ross Burach appears to occasionally become distant while someone is talking to him, he is not being rude, he is probably just working, creating another of his endearing characters.
Burach, who describes himself as an adult with a childlike side, is a writer and illustrator of children’s books. The Manalapan native has a deal with Harper Collins to publish several books, the first of which, “There’s a Giraffe in My Soup,” is available now.
Burach is the father of a 9-month-old daughter and lives with his wife, Polly, in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he creates his comical, lovable stories for children. He will be the featured guest at the Marlboro Public Library, Wyncrest Road, on April 12 to celebrate National Library Week.
Burach will read “There’s a Giraffe in My Soup” to youngsters and the story will be accompanied by crafts and activities. There will be programs at 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. and registration is mandatory by calling 732-536-9406. The event is geared to children in prekindergarten through third grade.
Burach is a 1998 graduate of Manalapan High School and holds a degree in fine arts from the University of Massachusetts. Since graduation, he has worked as a freelance illustrator designing characters and backgrounds for animation studios in children’s media.
Burach said his second book, “I Am Not a Chair,” which is scheduled for publication in February 2017, tells the story of a giraffe on his first day in the jungle.
When asked why he chose to feature a giraffe in his first two books, Burach, who is 6-feet, 3-inches tall, said coming from a tall family may have had something to do with that decision. His parents, Ellen and Lee, are tall, his older brother Drew, is 6-4, and his younger brother, Todd, is 6-5. And, Burach said, he likes giraffes.
Burach said his family is excited about his books, including his grandfather, Bernie, who is 90 years old. Although his grandmother Sonia died many years ago, Burach remembered her in his first book, referencing “Sonia’s Tomato Soup.”
“She was an amazing cook,” he said.
Burach said he starts a book with a sketch and then “builds out” a story, sketching and writing at the same time. Some of his books teach a lesson and others are simply for fun.
“I Am Not a Chair” will teach children how to speak up when they are shy.
“Sometimes kids need to speak up if something bothers them. If they wait to say something it only brings about more anxiety,” Burach said. “The story focuses on the giraffe finding his courage to speak up on his first day in the jungle after other animals mistake him for a chair.
“The book teaches a lesson, but not in the typical way he would learn it. It is from a unique perspective. I want my books to be comical and fun to read; books that parents would like reading to kids. The books are dialogue-based and are almost more of a scene in a short movie acted out, which is kind of my goal. I want them to be quirky and fun,” he said.
“Pine and Boof,” which is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2017, is the first in a series, with the second book scheduled to be released in the fall of 2018. The first book will introduce Pine the porcupine and Boof the bear, two wilderness friends who enjoy adventures.
“This is one of the projects I am most excited about because the characters are both very much me. Boof is creative, a little timid and cautious. Pine is more, ‘I’m going forward full steam.’ The characters are flawed, but learn from and complete one another. Pine and Boof in the wilderness also tap into my love for the outdoors and adventure. I love the characters and it is the kind of series that can keep going. My personal goal for this series is to have the characters be fun to create and then watch them grow,” Burach said.
The author said he loves the writing and sketching process.
“It’s the greatest,” he said. “It’s a lot of work and there are a lot of stressful days crumpling up paper and tossing it out, but it is also so much fun. I am just hoping I can continue to do this work.”
Burach said he considers himself lucky to be able to have a “think like a kid” mentally, adding, “My mind still thinks like a kid would, that anything is possible and that everything you can imagine is real.”