Nat the Rat: Early Reader Series Book #2

"Nat the Rat" is the second story in the "Pat and Friends Early Reader Series". Designed to engage young- readers with intuitive rhymes and simple sentence structure, Nat the Rat will help children develop the confidence needed to continue the life-long adventure of reading. Illustrated by Kelly Stribling- Sutherland, "Nat the Rat" will capture the imagination of children and older readers alike as they meet Nat and his friends.

Kent Chapman grew up in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the home of Little League Baseball. He graduated from Lycoming College, a small liberal arts college, where he discovered a passion for science. Kent earned a Ph.D. degree in plant biology from Arizona State University, conducted post-doctoral research in biochemistry at Louisiana State University, and currently holds the rank of Regents Professor of Biochemistry at the University of North Texas. His enthusiasm for children's literature paralleled his experiences as a father of two lovely daughters, and "Pat the Bat" was a project that he and his two daughters, Claire and Meredith, worked on while they were young students at a Montessori school in Denton, Texas. Chapman has authored many scientific publications, but "Pat the Bat" is his first foray into children's books. For the last 23 years, Kent and his wife Kerrie have called Denton, Texas their home. The two are blessed to have many family members nearby in Texas, and some a bit farther away in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Oklahoma.

Kelly Stribling Sutherland, an honors graduate of California's prestigious Art Center College of Design, works as a free-lance illustrator from her home in Denton, Texas. She credits master painters like Chagall, Munch and Degas as well as the compositional elements of photography and the graphic arts as inspiration for her work. The fine art look that is evident in her work bridges the fine line that illustrators most often walk. In her professional field, Kelly has garnered numerous awards and honors. In 1986 she gained notoriety as the youngest artist - only 25 years old - to have work selected for the cover of the Neiman-Marcus Christmas catalog. Nine years later in 1995, her artwork "Angel Bright Starry Night," was again chosen for the Neiman-Marcus Christmas catalog cover. Many products including cookie tins, snow globes, ornaments, and cards represented the artwork. The Neiman-Marcus Beauty Book, designed by Sibley-Peteet Design, and illustrated by Kelly, was selected to hang in the Library of Congress permanent collection in 1986. Another project, the France by the Sea Fortnight campaign by Neiman Marcus, was the recipient of the NORMA award. Other career highlights include her being named in 1987 as Ad week's "Southwest Illustrator of the Year." In a later Ad week issue, she was featured in "Women to Watch in the Southwest." In 1996 Kelly was asked to illustrate the White House Christmas Tour Guide, and was also invited to a White House reception to meet the President. Kelly has done work for many clients including Bloomingdales, Pier 1 Imports, D Magazine, Aetna Health Care, Brinker Inc., Scholastic Books, Running Press, Dayton's and Marshall Fields. Kelly was invited to submit an illustration to the Permanent Collection of Women's Illustration at the National Society of Illustrator's in New York City. Her piece "Angel Bright Starry Night" is part of the collection, donated by Neiman Marcus. In 1999, Kelly was commissioned to paint 12 paintings representing the 12 Days of Christmas for Dayton's and Marshall Field's. The work served as inspiration for the window and interior design of both stores. Dayton's also interpreted the work into a 3 dimensional show viewed by the public. Many products including a children's book, ornaments, a Christopher Radko ornament, shopping bags, snowglobe and many other paper products were reproduced. In 2002, Kelly was commissioned to illustrate the Christmas campaign for Nordstrom's Department store. The drawings depicted two whimsical children named Please and Thank You and a dog named Bootsy. The work decorated the Christmas catalog and in store displays. A print from the drawings was made into children's pajamas. Most recently Kelly designed paintings representing the United States Naval Academy, where her son is a recent graduate and currently serves as an Ensign in the Navy. Kelly is also a full time elementary art teacher in Little Elm, Texas teaching kinder through 5th graders.