Ripple Grove Press is proud to announce they have acquired the rights to make the Harry Chapin song, Mr. Tanner, into a children’s picture book. To be illustrated by Bryan Langdo, Mr. Tanner is currently scheduled for a fall 2017 release.

In the story, Mr. Tanner (who will be illustrated as a bear) runs a dry cleaning shop in the Midwest and sings to his customers. They praise him for having such a beautiful voice and encourage him to sing professionally instead of cleaning clothes. Mr. Tanner decides to take the chance and rents out a hall in New York City, only to find the critics didn’t take to what he was feeling.

Harry Chapin (December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was a legendary American folk singer and storyteller. He is well known for his folk rock songs, including the #1 hit Cat’s in the Cradle. Chapin was also a humanitarian who fought to end world hunger.

Bryan Langdo is the illustrator of over thirty books. His picture book Tornado Slim and the Magic Cowboy Hat won a 2012 Spur Award for Storytelling from Western Writers of America. He recently illustrated Salad Pie by Wendy BooydeGraaff. (Ripple Grove Press, 2016).