By Suzanne Hodgson
Staff Writer

Melissa Provencher draws pictures with hand gestures almost as well as she draws pictures with her colored pencils while sitting on the floor of her Biddeford home.
“I’m just a big kid,” says Provencher.
Provencher, 39, writes and illustrates a series of activity books for children. She is currently working on her eighth title, “Wicked Good Kennebunk and Kennebunkport Activity Book.
The book features facts about the area on the bottom of each page. Provencher thinks one fact the children will really enjoy is a story about the U.S.S. Aroostook.
Kennebunk was a big shipbuilding town in the 1800s when the gunboat U.S.S. Aroostook was built. After fighting in the Civil War, the Aroostook headed to China to fight pirate ships, where after decades of use, the ship fell apart.
The book includes other historic and interesting facts. Kennebunk, for instance, has the largest population of a rare flower called the Northern Blazing Star. And the Wedding Cake House was not built for a sea captain’s love, but simply for a man who had a taste for Gothic style.
The book also includes word searches related to the Kennebunkport’s “Prelude” and puzzles that deal with local sites such as a maze featuring the Seashore Trolley Museum.
“What’s holding me up is getting the facts. I like to confirm them with three or four sources,” Provencher said.
Provencher, who owns Brown Fox Printing in Kennebunk, works on the books during down time at the store. She does everything from beginning to end with the books, drawing the front covers, making the word searches on Excel spreadsheets and even printing the books in her shop.
“I have files on my computer crammed with pages of puzzles,” she said.
Editing the writing throughout the books seems to be the fun part for Provencher and her friends. When her adult friends edit the pages, they do more than just check the spelling, they do all the puzzles and games. Provencher says she is thinking of putting a note on the cover suggesting the book for children ages 7 and up. Last month Provencher was invited to Border’s in South Portland to sign copies of her recent release, “Wicked Good Maine Activity Book.” She will be at Poofberry’s toy store in Kennebunk on Dec. 5, her first Prelude experience.
While Provencher has always been interested in art, she didn’t begin illustrating until eight years ago. Another author noticed her art work hanging on the wall of Brown Fox printing in Biddeford, owned by Provencher’s  brother.
“Linda [Verville] asked me to illustrate, and I told her ‘I don’t draw cartoon things,’” said Provencher, “I think that’s funny because that’s what I do now.”
Provencher said no, but in a few weeks Verville was back and told Provencher her illustrations would help her realize a lifetime dream.
Verville’s book, “For Pete’s Sake,” was published with Provencher’s illustrations.
The activity book idea was from Provencher’s nephew.
“I draw mazes and stuff for my little nephew, one day I thought, ‘I can make a book with this stuff,’” said Provencher.
Now she has files crammed with mazes and book ideas to help keep her occupied during quiet times at the store.
After eight books, Provencher isn’t done yet.
“I have more ideas – Wicked Good Massachusetts, Wicked Good Maine Christmas Activity Book,” said Provencher.
“Wicked Good Maine Activity Book” is in stores now. “Wicked Good Kennebunk and Kennebunkport Activity Book” will be in stores in the next few months.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.