|PIC1|Jars of Clay's frontman Dan Haseltine will release his first book next month to reach a younger audience.

The One, The Only, Magnificent Me will release15 September through Mackinac Island Press.

"I wrote Magnificent Me because there is nothing more rewarding than fostering the imagination of a child," shares an enthusiastic Haseltine. "It is so important in setting up a person's capacity to dream bigger and live more passionately.

"Ideas that change the world come from people who have been given permission to think about a world far beyond our physical limitations.

"I wanted to write a book that reminded children that they are amazing and wonderful, and it has everything to do with them being alive, and having a heart and a mind and a soul. All children need to know that they are magnificent - with or without feathers."

Award-winning artist Joel Schoon Tanis agrees that the story shares such a poignant message, and was excited to be able to use his passion for art to make the book come to life.

"I've loved and respected Dan's writing for years, and often paint to his music. To be able to create with him is amazing. Magnificent Me was written with such visual possibility that it allowed me the space to sneak in all sorts of fun details," Tanis said.

"It let me lose myself in imagination much like the child in the story - and when a kid loses themselves in their imagination, it is truly magical. It is also about strengthening a child's self-esteem, which can open a world of possibilities to them, just like my parents' encouragement did for me."

One admirer who experienced the book said: "It's a combination of Shel Silverstein and Dr Seuss. You can tell the writer is a musician because there is a definite rhythm to the words. In addition, I love the splash of colour in the illustrations because it shows the way the young boy's imagination accents his world. And, of course, the message itself is something that everyone needs to be reminded of from time to time. I LOVE this book."

For more information on the book, go to www.mackinacislandpress.com for further details.