Imagine a world where a large fish not only reads and talks, but also gives advice to other fish on how they can better themselves through fun activities and programs at the Oxford Public Library.
Such a world does indeed exist. It’s called ‘Winston’s World,? drawn by library teen services employee Alissa LeMerise. To find the cartoon, all you have to do is go to the back page of the library’s newsletter.
Winston’s World focuses on the library’s most famous resident, Winston the large 20-year-old Pacu fish.
In the Fall 2008 issue, Winston encouraged Plato, a bored fish, to participate in one of the library’s many programs. In the Winter 2008-2009 issue, Winston was interrupted from reading the book The Little Mermaid by a loud sound. Was it aliens? Sharks? Monsters? Nope. It was sound waves caused by the loud pounding of an overenthusiastic child.
?[Glass tapping] was just something that happens quite a bit,? LeMerise said. ‘Kids come into the library and get excited about seeing Winston and the fishies. They tap on the glass and say hello to Winston. It wasn’t so much a discouragement not to tap on the glass but rather to show what it does to the fish.?
For LeMerise, drawing the cartoon stemmed from a childhood love of drawing.
‘I’ve been drawing my entire life,? she said. ‘I could draw before I could write. If there was a pencil and notepad, I’d scribble.?
LeMerise recalled that when she and her mother would go to a grocery store, her mom would give her a pencil and notepad to help her pass the time.
During LeMerise’s teen years, she began drawing cartoons for fun, not for publication.
Prior to working at the library, LeMerise was a journalist. Once she started working at the library she saw the newsletter and noticed the picture of Winston on the back. In the picture, Winston announces the library no longer has a public phone.
‘I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be so cool if I could do a little cartoon announcing things taking place at the library??? said LeMerise, who has a master’s degree in library science from Wayne State University.
She drew an example and showed it to library director Bryan Cloutier and asked if it could go in the newsletter. He presented it to the newsletter committee and they agreed on it.
‘As a library fish Winston loves to read, that’s the important thing,? LeMerise said. ‘I know it seems impossible since a book would get wet and soggy if put it into an aquarium, but this is a cartoon world.?
While LeMerise receives positive feedback on the cartoon and finds the kudos to be flattering, she doesn’t see herself joining the strenuous rat race of the cartoon business by trying to get Winston’s World syndicated. For her, cartooning is a hobby.
‘I really enjoy it and it helps me relax and takes me away from the real world,? she said. ‘Some hobbies are best if kept as hobbies.?