UNITY – With some help and encouragement from his co-workers and employer, Josh Noble took on the challenge to write a children’s book, explaining how a co-operative works.
Noble, who grew up in Evesham, worked at the Unity Credit Union from February 2015 to July 2019. During his time there, he was able to experience a passion for the credit union movement within the community. It was at that time he wanted to share that passion and help create a way to explain how a credit union works to young readers.
While on a daily jog around the town of Unity, an idea clicked. He sat down and wrote out the broad outline in one sitting. Where Should I Keep My Honey? is about a confused bee trying to decide where to keep her honey. As she gets more and more down in the dumps about having no good place to keep her honey, she learns that there is a place where bees keep their honey together.
“The story of co-operatives is a big part of the prairies, of Saskatchewan, of Unity – it is important that story is told and retold,” said Noble.
Co-worker Megan Heidt was asked to edit the work and the pair were soon on the hunt for a publisher. With a good reputation for children’s books and self-publishing authors, FriesenPress was the best fit for Noble, allowing him to self-fund the project with a Canadian company.
“FriesenPress worked with us, helping find us an illustrator and fulfilling the vision both Megan and I had from the start of this project,” said Noble.
Sales of the books will offset the cost of printing and publishing, however, the branch plans to gift copies to new members ages four to eight who decide to open a new account with the Credit Union.
“We are just happy to share the book within our community, the credit union system and our young members,” said Heidt.
Books are available for purchase through FriesenPress, Amazon and the Unity Credit Union branch, with e-book versions available through iTunes Bookstore and Google Books.'
