Ever since she can recall, Kimberly Adlerman, B.F.A. ’87, has had a passion for drawing. Whether she was excelling in art class or just doodling in a notebook, Kim realized at an early age that she possessed a special ability to create images with paper and pencil.

Today, the mother of three uses that talent to help put smiles on the faces of youngsters around the world. She and her husband, Danny, have found success as co-authors of children’s books. Over the past decade, the couple has sold 500,000 copies of their work, with their seventh title, “Rock-A-Bye Baby,” set to hit shelves in February 2004.

“It’s been a real labor of love,” said Adlerman, formerly Kimberly Hauck. “We enjoy doing what we do and the response has been great. It’s very gratifying to know that so many children like our books. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into each of them. To hear such positive feedback really motivates us.”

The Kids at Our House

The Adlermans met while employed with Macmillan Publishing in the late ‘80s. At the time, Kim was a graphic designer and Danny served as production manager of picture books. Married in 1991, the pair left their jobs three years later to pursue freelance interests. Soon thereafter, they established The Kids at Our House, a design and publishing consulting company.

“The Kids at Our House essentially serves as a vehicle for us to get our ideas out,” said Kim, who serves as the company’s art director. “Our goal in starting up the business was to use our skills, in concert with our desires, to advance our careers as authors and, in my case, as an illustrator, through design and production. We started out by advising people who were interested in doing children’s books, but didn’t know where to begin. We have since been slowly but steadily working towards releasing our own stories.”

As is the case with many authors, the Adlermans decided to write some of their earlier books under a pen name. They felt using their real names could create a conflict of interest when it came to their freelance work with publishing companies. Hence, Kin Eagle was born.

“We chose the moniker since Kin was a cross between Kim and Dan and Adler meant Eagle in German. In retrospect, it was a big mistake because it ended up confusing so many people. I’m happy to say that after four books, Kin was retired.”

9/11 tragedy inspires fund-raising project

In the wake of 9/11, the Adlermans asked kids around the country to draw pictures of what America meant to them. They then went on their own for the first time to publish “Songs for America’s Children,” a book featuring a selected handful of those drawings set to patriotic songs and poems. All proceeds from the book have gone to World Hunger Year.

“We really liked World Hunger Year because of its various programs, including one that was set up to help the people of Monmouth County,” said Adlerman, who currently resides in Metuchen, N.J. “That was the hardest hit county in New Jersey when it came to victims of the World Trade Center. So far we’ve been able to raise $18,000.”

Despite her busy schedule, Kim hasn’t forgotten her roots. She admits that she initially chose UB because it was close to home. However, that didn’t stop the Wheatfield, N.Y. native from jumping at the chance to spend a semester interning in New York City for the prestigious Pushpin Group. She says the classroom guidance she received as a communications design major helped her grow as an artist.

“I had some great teachers at UB,” said Adlerman. “There was one in particular, Mr. Nichols, who was just incredible. He worked with us in so many different areas and tried to get us to think differently when it came to the marketing perspective of designing. He had a big influence on me.”

--Keith Page, UB Today Online