All aboard the Sandra Boynton Express

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Immensely popular on the island, the kids’ author returns.

It’s not unusual to recall a favorite sonnet or passages from a beloved book.

But greeting cards?

For Sandra Boynton fans, that’s not unusual at all. Back in the ’70s and ’80s, her line of cards captivated buyers with colorful, illustrated animals that bid recipients such sentiments as “Hogs and Quiches” and “Hippo. Birdie. Two Ewes.”

They were cute and clever – without being cloying.

Boynton designed cards to pay expenses at Yale and for graduate school, first at UC Berkeley and later Yale School of Drama.

She created between 4,000 and 6,000 greeting cards, plus calendars, buttons and stickers, among other items; her line sold 50 million to 80 million cards per year in the 1980s.

But she became upset with her publisher when the company began to produce “very risque cards.”

“I didn’t want to be identified with that,” she said. “I don’t agree with it as a sensibility.”

So Boynton quit midstream and segued her characters into a line of children’s books, which continues to be immensely popular with youngsters and adults. To date, she has 40 titles to her credit.

Boynton will make her second trip to Eagle Harbor Books on Dec. 4 for a show-and-tell appearance for her latest project, a CD book called “Dog Train: A Wild Ride on the Rock-And-Roll Side.”

Her previous island appearance, on behalf of the New York Times Bestseller CD book “Philadelphia Chicken,” drew more than 200 people.

“Bainbridge Island felt like it was a homecoming to a place I’d never been,” Boynton said. “The bookstore is kind of legendary…and I love meeting families.”

Said Eagle Harbor bookseller Mary Gleysteen, “It’s safe to say we’ve sold well over 1,000 of her books.”

Boynton intended to become a theater director. While at drama school at Yale, she met her future husband, Jamie McEwan, the captain of the wrestling team and a 1972 Olympic bronze medalist.

They moved to the Berkshires and after the birth of the first of their four children, Boynton abandoned her original career idea. She wrote more books because it was easier to fit into a family schedule.

Her eldest child, now 26, was the inspiration for “Moo Baa La La La!” Inspiration continues to flow from Boynton’s childhood and her family.

About 10 years ago, a record producer approached her about creating something musical.

“I didn’t really like what was done with children’s music and I thought this shouldn’t be difficult,” said Boynton, who was undaunted by the fact that she can’t sing or play an instrument.

The producer asked for lyrics and sent them to several composers. When Boynton heard what classical composer and pianist Michael Ford had done with her words, she knew he was the one.

“He understood exactly what I was about,” Boynton said, adding that after 10 years and three albums, “he still gets it.”

Each of the albums has a theme. “Dog Train” is rock ’n roll, blues, hip-hop and pop; “Philadelphia Chicken” features “highly unlikely songs”; and “Rhinoceros Taps” offers silly songs. A portion of each song’s lyrics is set as a story and is accompanied by Boynton’s signature hippos, cats, cows and dogs. The books include full lyrics and music, plus performers’ bios.

Her latest CD book as two years in the making. For these projects, she writes lyrics and music with an artist in mind, then asks them to record the song.

Boynton flies solo. She has no agent or manager and runs every recording sesson.

Recording “Dog Train” took Boynton around the country. Since she was asking the artists to do her a favor, she traveled to them when their schedules allowed.

How she snared such performers as Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler and Kate Winslet was easy: She simply asked, either by letter – as with legendary crooners Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme – or walking up to them, like with Weird Al Yankovic.

“I sent my former book and a demo and a cover letter to Steve and Eydie,” Boynton said. “Later my phone rings and I hear, ‘Hello, this is Steve Lawrence.’”

She had written “Boring Song” with them in mind, capturing their vocal style to a T, never for a moment thinking she’d actually get them.

“The song is what a child thinks grown-up music sounds like,” Boynton said. “Steve loved this send-up.”

A couple of years ago, “Philadelphia Chicken” was nominated for a Grammy. Standing in line at the awards ceremony, she spotted Weird Al, introduced herself and asked if he’d sing a song on her next album.

“At the time he had a 1-year-old and knew who I was. He said yes and we really became friends,” she said.

For “I Need a Nap,” Boynton wanted polar opposites. She paired Weird Al with Kate Winslet, whom she knew could sing, and loved the outcome.

The raucous “Pots and Pans” features the Bacon Brothers (as in Kevin Bacon) and Micky Hart, legendary Grateful Dead drummer.

Boynton writes two books a year and already has her fourth CD book percolating. This one will center on big bands.

“It keeps you from getting a real job,” Boynton said.

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Toot toot

Award-winning author Sandra Boynton is pulling her latest CD-book combination, “Dog Train,” (Workman Publishing, $17.95) into Eagle Harbor Books at 3 p.m. on Dec. 4.