Just in time for the 400th Anniversary of Bermuda's founding, artist Elizabeth Mulderig, is bringing back the timeless and popular book series "Tiny the Tree Frog" much to the delight of children and parents alike. After an eight-year hiatus, Tiny is returning in the spring of 2009 with a new adventure entitled "Tiny the Tree Frog Sails Back to Bermuda." Ms Mulderig met with Mid-Ocean News reporter Lindsay Kelly to chat about the new series installment, how she got into the children's book business and what Tiny has been up to for the last eight years.

Q: Why is Tiny coming back to Bermuda now?

A:. In celebration of the 400th Anniversary, I thought it would be great to have Tiny sail back into Bermuda. It's going to be the first in a series of very tiny books, six inches by six inches. I'll be putting a new book each year after that.

Q: How many books are in the original "Tiny the Tree Frog" series?

A: There are four, the last of which was published in 2000.

Q: Why did Tiny take a hiatus?

A: I just purchased the full rights from the Bermudian Publishing Company (who was the publisher of the original Tiny series),which I used to share the rights with. So I have the Christmas book (Tiny's Night Before Christmas) out on shelves now. In light of the economic times, I've signed a number of copies and if you purchase an autographed one, you get another book for free. A little Christmas gift from Tiny.

Q. What year did the first Tiny book come out?

A. The first book, Tiny the Tree Frog Tours Bermuda, was first published in 1992. And, I was told that it sold the most out of any children's book made and published in Bermuda. It has gone into the fifth edition and there are 5,000 books per edition.

For some reason, that particular book just really took off. Tiny just resonates with children and adults alike. I think it is because he's tiny, vulnerable, Bermudian and very strong in his own way.

Q: What was your inspiration for the Tiny series?

A: Originally I was going to write about a cockroach. But one day I was walking down the street in Hamilton and there was a little tree frog in the middle of the sidewalk so I picked him up and put him under a tree in Barr's Park. As I was doing this, all these children gathered around me and were thrilled by this little tiny tree frog that I saved.

And, he saved me in a way, too, because he gave me the idea for the book series. When I saw the children's reaction to that little tree frog, I thought to myself, "Ok, it's not going to be a cockroach. It's going to be tree frog."

Q: How did you begin writing children's books?

A:. I studied English Literature at Boston University and then I went to art school in New York where I studied children's illustration. So I melded the two areas of study. Originally, I got into art school under the premise I was going to become a fashion illustrator and I did about one week of that and realised that I was not cut out for that industry. And, I have a pretty whimsical sense of humour and so that lent me to children's books rather than the serious world of fashion.

Q: Were you always interested in writing and drawing?

A: No, I went to college as a ballet dancer. I studied dance in Bermuda when I was younger and went to Yugoslavia with the Russian School of Ballet. I went to a school that was based in the summer home of New City Ballet and the woman who ran the programme was one of the Ballet's stars so I went there thinking I had a side-ways chance of becoming professional. And, as it turned out, the programme director quit within the first semester of me being there. After she left the entire programme started leaning towards modern dance so I just ended up not pursuing dance anymore and switched over to English Literature.

Q: You mentioned the new Tiny series are going to be six by six inches. Why is the new series so "tiny"?

A: I wanted to do a book that mothers could carry around in their purse. So often you see in doctor's offices or waiting rooms mothers trying to entertain their child. Being that these books small, they are easy to carry around. And, they are produced in thick cardboard so they are child proof.

Q: Can you tell us a little about the newest one book?

A: The new one is entitled Tiny the Tree Frog Sails Back to Bermuda. His sailing back to Bermuda ties in with the fact that the Tall Ships are to come to the island next year to celebrate our 400th anniversary. I'm hoping it will be out in the spring. I thought it would be a fun way to bring Tiny back from his eight year hiatus.

Q: Where is Tiny sailing back from?

A: Well he's dreaming that he is in a sail boat race. So of course, in his dreams he wins. So the last stanza is something along the lines of 'Finally I cross the finish line, oh life is what it seems. Our tiny boy, the winner was, if only in his dreams'.

Q: I heard you dedicated the book to some very special people?

A: I've dedicated the book to my two favourite sailors. One is my brother Robert Mulderig, who is an avid champion sailor. He has won a Marion to Bermuda race and has been in several Newport to Bermuda races. And, the other is my boyfriend Hubert Watlington, who was a Bermudian windsurfing Olympian in the 1980s. They each own a boat that I've included in the book.

Hubert has refurbished one of Bermuda's first Bermuda sloop ships from the late 1700's/early 1800's that is named Shamrock. And, my brother Robbie owned this gorgeous boat that raced all the time called StarrTrail named after the man who founded AIG, C.B. Starr. So Tiny hops from StarrTrail to Shamrock in the book.

Q: What other surprises do your new series installments hold?

A: The second book in the new series, which will be out in around next Christmas (2009), I'm bringing back Tiny the Tree Frog Tours Bermuda (which was one of the four original books) that hasn't been in print for years but people and stores keep asking for it.

So I'm bringing it back in the new installment of tiny books. It'll be pretty much the same except for the part about the perfume factory because the factory is no longer here in Bermuda.

Q: How many books are in the next installment?

A: So far, Tiny's adventures will be unlimited!

Q: You put out another book series "Do-Boy Digs Bermuda" within the last year, how was that received?

A: Very well. It went into the second edition within six months. It's about a Dachshund and people seem to love those dogs. People think they are funny; funny looking, funny acting and so they seem to really like the book. That made me really happy.

Q: Is there going to be another Do-Boy book?

A: Yes, but first I'm concentrating on getting at least three of the Tiny series out. But I am doing a little cartoon series in RG Magazine starting in December called "Do-Boy and Tiny" about the adventures of the two best friends.

And, I'm really excited about the cartoon series that will appear next week in the Mid-Ocean News. I've always loved Charlie Brown and this cartoon is sort of along the same lines as that cartoon with gentle social commentary about Bermuda.

Q. I hear you are a big supporter of SPCA (Society of the Protection and Cruelty to Animals)?

A: Yes, I give a portion of the proceeds of all my books to the SPCA. I also volunteer there. I just love dogs and I have had so many great dogs in the past.

Q: Speaking of dogs - you have one with you right now. Who is she?

A: I'm kind of known for having my dogs with me in bags! Her name is Moo-Mouse and she's newly adopted from the SPCA in February. She was found drowning in a half-filled swimming pool in the middle of the winter. She did have a hard time of it but she's so happy now. She's half Chihuahua and half Terrier and only weighs four pounds so I can carry her around.

She doesn't bark either, she simply doesn't know how. And, those that know me, know that I've always had extremely loud dogs. Every dog that I've ever owned has been completely spoiled and barks all day long so Moo-Mouse is really a gift from heaven for me and for everyone around me!