Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FAMILY MINIVAN DOES IT ALL IN FUN NEW PICTURE BOOK THE MEGAVAN
COON RAPIDS, MN- FEBRUARY 10, 2023- The life of a young active family calls for a real Do-It-All’er to take them everywhere they need to go, and he’s just the VAN for the job! His name is Let’s, the trusty red go-getter sworn to protect two parents, three kids, and one friendly dog. Let’s always knows just what his family needs, and is going to do (or BECOME!) anything it takes for them. He’s not just some minivan… He’s a Megavan!
The Megavan is a fun story of a growing family and the shared experiences that they go through during the early childhood years, told through the eyes of their trusty minivan. The on-the-go lifestyle of the family means much is asked of their van, and much is definitely delivered!
Local author/illustrator team Mark Therrien and Kevin Cannon bring the story of a transforming minivan to life in this humorous book. “I’ve always believed the minivan is the unsung hero of a busy family,” says Therrien. “When my family is flying from place to place with our schedule constantly changing, our minivan always stands ready and dependable for whatever we need.”
In his debut publication, Therrien draws inspiration from his family, including his wife, three young kids, their golden retriever dog, and, of course, their beloved 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan. “Reading books is a favorite activity each day in our house,'“ Therrien adds, “My biggest motivation with The Megavan is to help spread that joy of reading to other kids.”
To find where The Megavan is available for preorder, visit www.marktherrien.com.
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Sample Interview
Question: Why did you write a children’s book?
Answer: I’ve been reading children’s books to my three kids for years and have always shared in their enjoyment. Children’s books bring joy.
Q: What was your inspiration behind this story, The Megavan?
A: The Megavan was formed out of two real moments that I had in early 2022. The first was when I was in my garage loading something into the back of our minivan. While I was folding down seats and playing the will-it-or-won’t-it-fit game, I started thinking about all the things my busy family asks of this van, and how it just continually delivers. From safely bringing home our babies from the hospital, to moving houses, to packing sports equipment, to keeping us safe through the Minnesota snow, and even just providing a calming space for conversation, this 2011 Honda Odyssey has been a quiet constant in our lives, consistently giving us what we need.
The second moment was me wondering one day about what our family would look like from a peripheral, “side character” view- from the eyes of someone who doesn’t see everything but is just inside enough to know us well. I realized our minivan has driven us to so many of our big family moments and would serve as a great narrator for our story.
Q: Who do you think will most resonate with this story?
I think the story has a common theme of experiencing life’s moments together with those closest to you, so I hope everyone can take something away from reading it. I wrote based on my life parenting young kids, and I know families in the same stage are the ones that may most see themselves in the book, but the theme could easily translate to marriages, grown families, or friendships as well.
I am also partial to the contingent of guys that have traded in their sports car dreams for the glorious minivan Dad life. Stay strong, dudes.
Q: Your publisher Beaver’s Pond Press and illustrator Kevin Cannon are also local to Minnesota. Was this a important aspect to you?
A: Yes! I’ve always been a “hometown guy” with Minnesota and am very proud to have found such great partners here in the Twin Cities. The book’s story also unfolds over many years, and only a true Minnesotan like Kevin could so precisely capture our never-ending changing of seasons.
