DATE: Saturday, November 29, 1997           TAG: 9711270084

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E9   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TERESA ANNAS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   55 lines

BOOK'S CREATORS RETURNING TO BEACH

THE VIRGINIA CREATORS of a children's book about a little seed that didn't want to grow up will be signing books in Virginia Beach this weekend.

Illustrator Cris Arbo and her husband, writer Joseph Anthony, formerly of Virginia Beach, will be signing copies of their new book, ``The Dandelion Seed,'' at four Beach bookstores:

Once Upon a Time Children's Books, 4206 Virginia Beach Blvd., from 1 to 3 p.m. today.

Waldenbooks, Lynnhaven Mall, 6 to 8 p.m. today.

The Heritage Store, 314 Laskin Road, 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.

B Dalton Bookseller, Lynnhaven Mall, 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

``The Dandelion Seed,'' nationally released in September by Dawn Publications of California, is the simple story of a seed still clinging to its flower in late autumn, fearful of letting go.

A hard wind finally sweeps the seed away. It goes on an eye-opening journey, finally rooting and producing leaves and flowers and its own seeds, which in turn go out into the world.

This gentle, encouraging tale is about the cycles of life found in nature and in man, and is a reflection of this New Age couple's values.

``Where the child sees a seed, a parent may see more: a soul, perhaps a prodigal, in search of understanding. Where a schoolteacher sees basic biology, a rabbi may see basic spirituality. It is a shared experience, a shared adventure,'' Anthony said.

The story came to him while driving to work in rural Buckingham County, where the couple moved in 1993.

``He was thinking of a flower that didn't want to grow up,'' Arbo said. ``Then he turned it into a seed. And he chose the dandelion, because it's so simple and humble.

``Most people overlook dandelions, but it's a rather universal flower, found on every single continent.''

Arbo is a veteran free-lance artist and illustrator who moved to Virginia Beach in 1983. Her work has been commissioned for calendars and book covers and adorns the picture windows at the Heritage Store.

Anthony, who moved to the Beach in the late 1980s, is a former Navy trumpeter who now splits his time between construction work and free-lance writing. This is his first publication, Arbo said.

While living at the Beach, the couple were closely associated with the local New Age community.

In addition to the above bookstores, ``The Dandelion Seed'' also is being sold at Barnes & Noble Booksellers. Geared to ages 3 to 10, the hardback sells for $16.95 and the paperback for $7.95. ILLUSTRATION: DAWN PUBLICATIONS

A dandelion seed takes a long ride on the wind before taking root in

a forest, amid dear and rabbits, in ``The Dandelion Seed.''

Illustrator Cris Arbo and her husband, writer Joseph Anthony.

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