ÔLittlest Pilgrim' a hit for former Kalispell woman

If the reaction from a pair of Connecticut preschool classrooms is any indication, "The Littlest Pilgrim" is a hit.

There are other clues that the children's book, written by Kalispell native and 1994 Flathead High School graduate Brandi Dougherty, is hot. Two weeks ago it reached No. 6 on the New York Times bestseller list of children's paperbacks. Last week it was No. 9.

But it's the reaction from children that drives that success home.

"They were so adorable," Dougherty said of the 3- and 4-year-olds she read to last week. "And the teacher told me that after I left, they were all asking to hear the story over and over again."

Dougherty, 32, never expected her book, which was published by Scholastic in October, would be so popular. She never expected it to be published in the first place.

She wrote the story in an afternoon after thinking of the title. Dougherty, who works for Scholastic's book clubs division, submitted the story to Cartwheel Books, an imprint of Scholastic's trade book division.

"I was not really thinking they were going to publish it," she said Friday in a telephone interview from New York City. "I just wanted to get feedback on what they thought. … Then they came back to me and said they wanted to publish it.

"It was really exciting."

It wasn't the first time she has been published. Scholastic's book club division has published two other books by Dougherty over her eight-year career there.

"Writing was something I always thought about in the back of my mind, but it wasn't until I started working at Scholastic that I thought, ÔHey, I think I could do this,'" she said. "I definitely think it helps to know the business side of things, to know what sells and what kids are excited about reading."

Dougherty's first book, "The Friendship Survival Handbook," was a 64-page activity book intended as part of a friendship kit in a Scholastic book club catalog. It included tips for mending a friendship after a fight, slumber party activities and inexpensive, do-it-yourself gift ideas.

"Scholastic is always hiring writers to do these kinds of projects," Dougherty explained. "I said, ÔHey, I'd really like to do this,' and I submitted a writing sample."

Because it was published by the book club division, "The Friendship Survival Handbook" was only available through Scholastic's book clubs, which allow school children to order inexpensive books from the company's monthly catalogs.

The same division published Dougherty's second book, "The Valentine's Day Disaster," a novel for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders.

Dougherty said she is the inspiration for the main character, Maddy, who hates Valentine's Day.

"It's based on my sister and me when I was younger," she said. "She's five years older, and I remember her getting lavished with gifts by boys. I was always very anti-Valentine's Day.

"It kind of sprang from that memory."

"The Littlest Pilgrim," which tells the story of Mini, the smallest girl in her Pilgrim village, wasn't based on any childhood memories, Dougherty said. It is, however, similar to a story she wrote as a second-grader at East Evergreen Elementary.

"It was about me being the youngest sister, and how I couldn't do the things my older sister could do," she said.

Her teacher, Mrs. Mahoney, praised the story. Dougherty credits Mahoney for first inspiring her to become a writer.

"She was so encouraging about that," Dougherty said. "It definitely stuck with me."

Dougherty's mother, Jan, said it isn't a shock that her daughter has become an author.

"It's not a surprise at all," she said. "When she was younger, she loved reading. She loved books.

"She's been interested in writing for a long time. I'm not at all surprised to see her get books published now."

"The Littlest Pilgrim" is a departure from Dougherty's previous books; it's intended for a much younger audience. Writing for very young children is a different experience, Dougherty said.

"You're thinking about really simple sentences. It's only a couple of sentences per page," she said. "It's the illustrations that really drive the story."

Dougherty has never met Kirsten Richards, the British illustrator who worked on the book, but said her pictures tell the story perfectly.

"I absolutely love them," Dougherty said. "I definitely had a picture in my mind of the main character, Mini. The illustrator captured her perfectly.

"She has a gorgeous style, sort of soft and sweet. I almost cried when I saw the book."

Because "The Littlest Pilgrim" is a seasonal book, Dougherty said she doesn't expect it to be displayed as prominently as it has been once Thanksgiving is over. However, it's received enough attention this fall that she hopes it will come out every year.

"I think it will be something bookstores and libraries will bring out every fall," she said.

Dougherty also is working on follow-up ideas.

"Scholastic is interested in other Ôlittlest somethings,'" she said.

"The Littlest Pilgrim" is available locally at Borders. It also is available online.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyin-terlake.com.