Fordland couple crafts leather books built to endure the years – and little hands.
by Sara Schafer | sschafer@ruralmissouri.coop
Shredded. That’s how Jacob Underwood found his 18-month-old daughter’s books when he went to wake her from her nap. She was already awake and had quietly destroyed another one of her board books.
As the father of four daughters, Jacob knew traditional books would never win the war against emerging toddler teeth and constantly busy hands. So, he and his wife, Markie, put their heads together. “I thought there has to be a better material to make books out of and a better way to do it,” Jacob says.
In the year following that insightful afternoon, Jacob and Markie brainstormed several types of book materials. They wanted the books to be safe for children to chew on, easy to clean when doused with milk and strong enough to pass down to siblings and even future generations.
The couple, members of Webster Electric Cooperative who live near Fordland, settled on leather as the best option. Instead of simply making leather covers, they would make the entire book out of the sturdy natural material. They visited nearby Springfield Leather Co. to test several types. They explored printing processes, ink types and binding methods.
Once they had a rough plan, the couple needed the words and pictures. Luckily, they didn’t have to look far. “We both come from large families,” Markie says. “He’s one of seven, and I’m one of eight. Within our families, we have a lot of talent.”
They enlisted two of Markie’s sisters, Emma and Rose Discher, for the illustrations. One of the first books was “ABC with Nature,” which pairs Rose’s original animal paintings with each letter of the alphabet. Similarly, she created watercolor-style illustrations to depict a popular psalm in “Psalm 148.”
The sisters also brought to life a story that had been passed down through generations of their family — “Pollywog Frog.”
“My grandmother and mom heard this story at a teacher’s conference about 40 years ago,” Markie says. “I grew up hearing the story but it had never been put down in a storybook. My grandmother died before she could see it printed, but now we can continue to pass the story down. I love how my sister’s imagination brought Pollywood Frog to life.”
The now third-generation family tale focuses on Pollywog Frog, who is a good little frog — most of the time. He takes a captivating adventure through Bayberry Bog and encounters memorable characters along his journey. Jacob and Markie’s daughters adore the book.
In April 2023, the couple officially launched their business, Forever Leather. They offer a variety of books, toys, earrings and more. All products are nontoxic and durable, so they should last for years, if not decades. The couple sells their products online and at a variety of festivals. Books cost $55, earrings cost $12.50 and games, such as checkers, matching games and board games range from $35 to $65.
“When people actually pick up one of our books, they realize the difference,” Jacob says. “A lot of people are just blown away by them because they haven’t seen anything like them before. The price does scare a lot of people at first. But if somebody has a specific event they’re buying for, oftentimes they’ll go ahead and pick one up. As far as we know, there’s not a comparable product out there.”
Jacob and Markie lean toward a minimalistic life. They want their children to have quality toys — not excessive toys. That’s why they focus on making products that last.
“A few months ago, I did a price comparison on a book my daughter was given for her first birthday,” Markie says. “That was the same year we printed our first prototype. The board book she was given didn’t even last a year. The one we made is still going strong. So even if our book only lasts five years, it will be the same price as that book that lasted one year. We estimate our books lasting 30 years, but that’s a low estimate.”
Jacob and Markie hope their business brings happiness to many children. They say each story is written with the hope of instilling important values and bringing joy. Plus, each book is made by parents who read the same stories to their little girls.
To learn more about Forever Leather or buy their products, visit shopforeverleather.com. It is one of 600 companies in the Buy Missouri initiative overseen by Lt. Gov. David Wasinger. To find more Missouri-made products, visit www.BuyMissouri.net.