Mr. Zip and The Capital Z

by Kimberly S. Bryant-Palmer, Jerry Palmer (Illustrator), Anne Severance (Editor)

Overview

After a terrifically hard and terribly disappointing day before the Fourth of July, Peanut Johnson, wandering aimlessly down Main Street, stumbles upon The Capital Z, a This and That Shop. Stepping inside, he meets Mr. Aloysious Zip, the kind and eccentric shopkeeper, who introduces Peanut to a most wondrous place. There are toys and trinkets, model cars and miniature wagon trains, even memorabilia from days gone by—“reminders,” says Mr. Zip with an air of mystery.
Discovering “everything from A to Z” inside The Capital Z, Peanut also finds history unfolding before his very eyes. Touching a Kentucky rifle hanging on the shop wall, he is transported to the wilderness where he sees his Great-Great-Great-Great Uncle Milkweed Johnson fighting in Andrew Jackson's regiment during the War of 1812. George Washington's sword brings Peanut onto the battlefield where the General, on horseback, dodges bullet after bullet. And while staring at a beautiful stained-glass window depicting the building of the Tower of Babel, Peanut finds himself in a crowd of angry and confused spectators, all speaking different languages!
But Peanut's visit to The Capital Z turns out to be much more than a journey through history. As he peers into the past with his Uncle Milkweed and some of America's greatest leaders, he finds courage and hope to face his own mistakes, taking his first steps from boyhood to those of a young man.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780996254601
Publisher:	Capital Z Books
Publication date:	07/15/2015
Pages:	37
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Kimberly Bryant-Palmer never dreamed of becoming a writer, but always loved reading—her favorite authors being James Michener, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Harper Lee. Kimberly received her Bachelor of Arts degree in both music and biology from Mary Washington College (now The University of Mary Washington). While in graduate school, studying music theory, she worked a short time in cancer research before going on to write and record a CD, Just Enough. But it was when she met an artist named Jerry Palmer, and wrote the introduction for a book idea he had carried in his head for 25 years, that she found what she truly loved to do.
Mr. Zip and The Capital Z, a story of restoration and hope, tells of a young, dark-skinned American boy, Peanut Johnson, who has just endured “a terrifically hard and terribly disappointing day.” In this tale, Kimberly explores matters of the heart while taking her readers on a magical journey through history.
As she wrote, Jerry sketched the characters, and together, they brought the eccentric Mr. Zip, the tenderhearted Peanut, and his hilarious, lovable family to life.

Jerry Palmer started drawing and painting at the age of three. Celeste Cunningham, his eighth grade art teacher and his high school art teacher, Mary Rodgers Turner, both recognized and encouraged the artistic talents they saw in him giving him the inclination and courage to pursue art in every medium. After high school, he then went to Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Art. While there, he developed Spring Sing, an all school musical production used in recruiting new students to Harding. His professional career includes set design and work on music videos, as well as television and film production. He worked as a scenic artist first, then as Art Director at The Nashville Network (TNN) in conjunction with The Grand Ole Opry. Since that time, he has worked with clients doing portraiture, sculpture, wall murals, furniture design and illustration. He now resides with his wife, Kimberly, in Franklin, Tennessee.

What People are Saying About This

Rev. Nate Shurden

Mr. Zip and the Capital Z is like climbing up into your grandfather's lap to hear him tell a great old story. But like every good grandfather tale, there is always more than a story, there is a life lesson. Using history, timeless wisdom, and an array of curious characters, Kimberly Bryant-Palmer introduces us to a precocious young boy, Peanut Johnston, who enters the magical world of The Capital Z and is forever changed. This coming of age story promises to engage your imagination and warm your heart while teaching some of the most important lessons of life. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

Roxane Atwood Independent Broadcast and Media Specialist

With her heartwarming accounts of the adventures of Peanut Johnson, Kimberly Bryant-Palmer not only breathes life into a delightful family of characters, but she immerses those characters and the reader into a well of historical events leaving us thirsty for more. Mr. Zip and The Capital Z is more than a fun read (although it is that!). It’s a learning experience… and it challenges the reader, no matter the age, to discover the secrets that make us who we are. The book is beautifully illustrated by renowned artist Jerry Palmer who just happens to be Kimberly’s husband. His drawings will draw you into the magical world of Mr. Zip as he teaches Peanut Johnson that sometimes we are who we are, because we are who we were. As the writer of Mr. Zip and The Capital Z, Kimberly-Bryant Palmer may have reached her zenith. I love this book, and my grandchildren do too!

Editorial Reviews

Mr. Zip and the Capital Z is a beautifully written and brilliantly illustrated story in which American history and the importance of family are interwoven to ponder the importance of values such as responsibility, honesty, and character. As our culture continues to challenge and redefine the meaning of integrity, the wholesome Mr. Zip and the Capital Z couldn't come along at a better time. I just hope this is the beginning of a series because the author has not only created a unique method of combining teachings of history and integrity but she also introduces a number of fun characters with whom I'd like to get better acquainted! Kurt V, Boston, MA"Kim Palmer’s first published work brings to life delightfully fun trips back in time and forward in Spirit for youth and youth-minded. Illustrated graphically and with description, the book draws you in quickly and holds you to the end. I can’t wait to see what happens next to Peanut and his family.

Rob Payne

With her heartwarming accounts of the adventures of Peanut Johnson, Kimberly Bryant-Palmer not only breathes life into a delightful family of characters, but she immerses those characters and the reader into a well of historical events leaving us thirsty for more. Mr. Zip and The Capital Z is more than a fun read (although it is that!). It’s a learning experience… and it challenges the reader, no matter the age, to discover the secrets that make us who we are. The book is beautifully illustrated by renowned artist Jerry Palmer who just happens to be Kimberly’s husband. His drawings will draw you into the magical world of Mr. Zip as he teaches Peanut Johnson that sometimes we are who we are, because we are who we were. As the writer of Mr. Zip and The Capital Z, Kimberly-Bryant Palmer may have reached her zenith. I love this book, and my grandchildren do too!

Roxane Atwood Independent Broadcast and Media Specialist

Mr. Zip and the Capital Z is like climbing up into your grandfather's lap to hear him tell a great old story. But like every good grandfather tale, there is always more than a story, there is a life lesson. Using history, timeless wisdom, and an array of curious characters, Kimberly Bryant-Palmer introduces us to a precocious young boy, Peanut Johnston, who enters the magical world of The Capital Z and is forever changed. This coming of age story promises to engage your imagination and warm your heart while teaching some of the most important lessons of life. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

Rev. Nate Shurden

"After getting in trouble and missing the Fourth of July festivities, Peanut Johnson is feeling down. He travels into town and finds the Capital Z, a place he has never seen before. Walking in, he finds the most unusual items, and man. [...] Using the stories behind the displays, Mr. Zip shows Peanut how his recent trouble needs to be handled. Peanut also learns how faith in Jesus, which he knows some about already, was important to people in history, like George Washington. [...] The story line is both entertaining and educational. Children can learn some about the past, both how people lived and how they treated others. The lessons are fun so that kids don’t get that glassy eyed state that comes with learning sometimes. Though Mr. Zip and The Capital Z is a children’s book, Kimberly Bryant-Palmer has written it in a way that parents can share in reading it. The story is deep enough that adults can enjoy it with kids. This opens an opportunity for parents to reinforce the lessons in the book."

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