October 08, 2009

Susan Yost-Filgate and illustrator husband Leonard Filgate created the Rip Squeak book series.

Susan Yost-Filgate, author and co-creator of the Rip Squeak picture book series, will be the featured speaker at the Arne Nixon Center Advocates annual meeting Friday, Oct. 24, at The Smittcamp Alumni House on the Fresno State campus.

A reception will be held at 6 p.m., followed by the talk at 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

The Rip Squeak series was created by Susan Yost-Filgate and her husband, illustrator Leonard Filgate, in 1997. These picture books feature Rip Squeak, an adventurous mouse, his sister Jesse, and their friends, Abbey the kitten and Euripides the frog. The original three Rip Squeak books will be available for sale and autographing at this event.

The Filgates, who moved to Fresno three years ago, first sold their books through a German publisher who exhibited them at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where they were discovered by an American publisher. Now the books, art prints, and numerous other products are sold in bookstores throughout the U.S. and at Rip Squeak Galleries in Carmel, Monterey, San Diego, San Francisco, and Lahina, Hawaii. The books and galleries have proved so successful that the Filgates have recruited additional artists and writers to help with production.

Seating is limited. For reservations call 559.278.8116 or send e-mail to mrianto@csufresno.edu.

For more information on the Arne Nixon Center, contact curator Angelica Carpenter at

559.278-8116 or angelica@csufresno.edu.