The Rourke Art Gallery + Museum is pleased to offer Ann Solyst's watercolor illustrations from the children's book Peter the Slug and the Great Forest Race, written by Peter Schultz, as a benefit auction for the Jeremiah Program, Fargo-Moorhead. Solyst's watercolors will be on view in the exhibition "The Return of Peter the Slug" on the second level of The Rourke from 15 August through 14 September 2025, after which time the auction winners will collect these lovely, whimsical pieces.

Jeremiah Program’s mission is to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time. Our primary goal is to promote long-term child and family health and wellbeing by leveraging coaching and holistic supports to deliver services that improve college persistence. JP’s unique two-generation (2Gen) approach invests simultaneously in a mother’s vision for her post-secondary, career, and leadership goals—and the development of her children.

A book cover with the title "Peter the Slug and the Great Forest Race," beneath which there is fanciful watercolor illustration of a small green slug standing with a determined look on its face.

Peter the Slug and the Great Forest Race is an illustrated children’s book written by Peter Schultz and illustrated by Ann Solyst. The book was available for the first time 8 September 2015 in English on Amazon. Seven other translations are also available for purchase around the world. Produced and published by Silver Goat Media, the book follows the adventures of a slug named Peter who dreams of running in the Great Forest Race. The book is about courage, tenacity, and the willingness to follow your dreams.

Author Peter Schultz stewed on the idea for this book for almost a decade. In 2012, he discussed the project with illustrator Ann Solyst, and the collaboration was born. Through local donations and the support of family and friends, the book came to life. While Peter’s Kickstarter campaign was unsuccessful, the slug didn’t give up -- and Silver Goat Media won’t either. The company believes in Peter’s message and is dedicated to spreading it from Fargo to the world.

Silver Goat Media is an independent publishing company based in Fargo, ND dedicated to great ideas, great stories, and the power of the imagination. We conceptualize. We collaborate. We create. For authors. For readers. For the world.

"Peter the Slug" Auction - Benefiting the Jeremiah Program