Children of local famous artist write Christmas book
A local brother and sister who are the children of well-known artists are following in their footsteps.
“The Twelve Hats of Christmas” was illustrated by Holly Parson Nielsen and authored by her brother, Brett Parson.
Their father, Leon Parson, is a respected wildlife artist. In fact, he holds the record for the most illustrated covers for “Outdoor Life.” magazine. He also has painted several of the murals for LDS temples, and is commissioned to do portraits of Mormon church leaders. Their uncle, Del Parson, does religious works. Perhaps his best know work is the familiar “Red Robed Christ.”
Holly grew up with a love for art and children’s books, as she listened to her mother read to her and Brett when they were young.
“I love the whimsical,” Holly said. ” It makes me excited. I love children’s books because they have such magic.”
So, Holly teamed up with her brother, Brett Parson, to put together a children’s Christmas book. She’s the illustrator . He’s the author. It was his idea.
“She had an illustration I’d seen a while back of an elf, and I fell in love with it and I thought that it would make a wonderful Christmas book,” Brett said.
Brett also remembers his mother reading children’s books to him and his sister.
“I remember at that point a long time ago — this was before I knew that I could write or Holly could illustrate — I thought we would eventually do something together like put together a book.” Brett said.
Brett had been talking for years about writing a children’s story. Finally his wife, Heidi, urged him to do it. She even gave him some inspiration for a moral to the story.
“One night we were just talking and I thought every mom wants a moral to share with her children, and if you’re going to write this book, that’s what you need to do and he took that and he went with it,” Heidi said. “The moral is giving. Of course, we can always give gifts , but it’s the giving of yourself — that’s the moral of the story.”
“The Twelve Hats of Christmas” is available online at 12hatsofchristmas.com. It’s also available at Porters and Tai Pan Trading in Idaho Falls.
