Peace, Jazz and Peppermint Spice up Story Time at Eatontown Library

From the Eatontown Public Library:

was delighted to have Carmen Rubin read her book, Ashti Meets Birdman Al this past Wednesday, Jan. 25. Rubin, a native of San Francisco, relocated to Central Jersey and now calls herself a "Cali-Jersey Girl." Not only is she the author of the children's book Ashti meet Birdman Al, she is also the President of the Peppermint Candy Publishing Company.

In the story Ashti Meets Birdman Al, Ashti, along with her mother and the Birdman, helps keep a school from losing its music program while also preserving the genre of Jazz. As Rubin reads this story, she connects the readers through Birdman's educating scats and bee-bop! The kids at the Public Library repeated the scats and bee-bop and soon everyone was able to scat along with her. She also had some of the children play "air instruments" such as the piano, drums and the trumpet.

When asked, the reason for the name of her company, Peppermint Candy Publishing Company, she explains, "The idea of the Peppermint Publishing Company came from my grandfather's Peppermint Candy Club. He started the club for children who he felt needed more love shown to them. He would offer a peppermint candy to a child if they were having a bad day. Handing it to them always put a smile on their face, and they were even more excited to be a part of his club. All they had to do in return was show love to others. I am simply keeping my grandfather's legacy by introducing his love message to the world. People always ask me what the peppermints are all about, and it gives me the opportunity to talk about spreading love." Rubin showered the Eatontown Public Library children with "Peace, Jazz, and Peppermint" by also giving each child an autographed copy of her book, Ashti Meets Birdman Al.

Every child left with a smile on their face, a book in their hands and jazz on their minds.