Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could by Sandy Nathan

Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could

Tecolote’s chances were not good. Born prematurely on a freezing night, the buckskin colt had to fight for his life. When he was still a baby, Tecolote lost his mother. Would he be able to find a horse to help him grow up and teach him the ways of the herd? Would he ever know a friend who would love and protect him?

Be with Tecolote as he masters the challenges that young horses–and young people–face as they grow up and become all they’re meant to be. Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could will inspire children and adults alike. The illustrations in this book are snapshots taken while Tecolote’s story was unfolding. In using snapshots, the author wanted to bring you as close to the action as possible and introduce you to the real Tecolote, Shambho, Rosie, and all the other horses of Rancho Vilasa. This truly is Tecolote’s scrapbook–welcome to his world.

Excerpt––The beginning of Chapter One

“We’d better call Dad,” Lily said, “just to make sure everything’s all right.” My daughter Lily and I were headed for a gospel concert. We were already in the spirit, clapping and laughing as we drove through the twilight in our lovely valley.

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed home. Things weren’t all right–I could tell the instant I heard Barry’s voice.

“I need you,” he said. “Rosie had her baby. He’s early. He can’t stand up. I need help.”
“We’ll be right there.” We whipped the car around, all thoughts gospel and joy gone.

We had bred horses for almost twenty years. We knew that baby horses need all the time they can get inside their mothers. A baby horse that’s born just two weeks early probably won’t make it. His little lungs may not be able to give him the air that he needs. He’ll be too weak to stand or nurse.

Rosie’s baby was ten days early. He could die.

Bio:
Sandy Nathan has been active riding, showing, breeding, and loving horses for most of her life. She and her family raised Peruvian Paso horses for more than twenty years. “Horses enabled me to be the person I am. As a child, I was so shy I seldom spoke. When I got my first horse at age thirteen, I learned to assert myself. Over my years with horses, I’ve learned competency and self confidence that transferred all over my life.”

Available from: Amazon

See also:
Excerpt from: The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy by Sandy Nathan
Interview with: Sandy Nathan, Author of Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could and The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy

The Adventures of Machu and Jack by Tabitha Grace Smith

The Adventures of Machu and Jack

Authored by Tabitha Grace Smith 
Illustrated by Mindy Lou Hagan 

Reading level: Ages 3-7
Softcover: 48 pages
Product Dimensions: 8.25 x 8.25 inches x 0.1 inch

 

It’s no fun being a pirate cat when you’re afraid of the water, but Jack the Kitten (fiercesome pirate in his own mind) can’t be scared to take a bath, can he? When his older brother shows him the power of his own imagination Jack learns that there’s no time to be afraid when you’re having fun.

About the author:

Tabitha Grace Smith has been writing interesting stories since age 6 (and by interesting we mean fascinating). She’s worked with kids for over 16 years and, in “Jack the Kitten is Very Brave”, she’s been able to pair her passion for kids with her love of cats and pirates! She currently lives in Los Angeles with the real life versions of Machu and Jack. When she’s not writing she works in social media and marketing.

Without a Home: Inspiring Stories of Animal Adoptions by Elaine Marlier

The Without A Home series are a unique collection of short stories about animals that unexpectedly find themselves without a home. Each book takes the reader on a journey, through the animal’s point of view and their own words, of life before the shelter, their stay in the shelter, and then their new live when they are finally given that second chance at life. Each story reminds the reader of some of life’s most important lessons along the way. The stories bring to life the connection that can only form when one adopts and saves the life of an animal.

In Without A Home Inspiring and heartfelt tales of dog adoptions, Spike shows Linda that the shelter can be the perfect place to find the perfect dog. Daisy gives Katerina a gift of her past, Yogi reminds his new master that looks really do not matter, Jackie reminds her owner of the importance of family, and Sal gives Maria an entire new lease on life.

 In Without A Home Inspiring and heartfelt tales of cat adoptions, BT proves to Ashley that love is much more important than looks. The journey for Tasha and her four kittens – Tommy, Snowball, Lily and Smokie – bring to life of the importance of family,while Smokie teaches his new owner Ali, how to overcome her own inadequacies. Jelly and Justin take the reader on a journey of courage and faith that proves to have an immeasurable end.

In Without A Home Inspiring and heartfelt tales of small animal adoptions, Harry the hamster shows Brandon that one boy’s trash is another boy’s treasure. Cindy the chinchilla teaches Gabby that beauty is only skin deep. Reggie the rat drives home the importance of adoption to one young boy named Billy, and Bonnie the bunny finds paradise in the coincidence of her past. Frankie the ferret gives Martha a whole new outlook about animals.

Elaine Marlier works in the pet industry in Colorado, and work with many shelters and rescue groups throughout the state. All of the book signings I do raise money to help the animals. More about Elaine:

http://denver.yourhub.com/Littleton/Stories/Pets-and-Animals/Story~633120.aspx
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-677-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m7d26-Author-Elaine-Marlier-writes-books-that-inspire-pet-adoption

Reviews:

I just received the book on Friday and thought I would read it slowly but could not! What wonderful stories! I cried through each one. I love how Elaine incorporated the dog’s point of view into the story. I believe in destiny. My first adopted pet was a cat and I knew she was for me when she put out her paw and touched my hand. If not for a little dog jumping up on his cage he would not have got our attention and we would not have noticed the other dog beside him and gone home from the shelter without a dog rather than adopting two. I especially loved the stories about Yogi and Sal. It is definitely something magical when you adopt a dog. There are dogs meant for special people. Thank you Elaine for such wonderful stories. Definitely a must read. –Carol Ann  Reading, MA

I loved this book. It was so heartfelt and warm. A reminder that we cannot take animals for granted.  They can only “tell” us their needs in so many ways. We have to be mindful to think of what they need and give it to them. Our animals love us unconditionally, we should show them the same respect. This book is a great educational tool as well as it reminds people to adopt their next pet from a shelter. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a dog.  –Gigi   Edgewater, NJ

This is my second Elaine Marlier book. As with the tales of dog adoptions, this too is a must read. I received my book on Saturday and had it finished by Sunday.  So much for keeping it to a chapter per night which I like to do when reading in bed.  I couldn’t put it down. Author Elaine Marlier did a great job of writing through the eyes of the kittens and cats. You were able to see what they saw. Again, Artist Judith Angell Meyer did a wonderful job of portraying the animals in each chapter, this time it was the felines. You will love the ending… –Maxxie Brown  Mount Morris, NY

You won’t be able to put it down. Simply marvelous, a true work of art. This book is a must read for any animal lover, and when you are done, be sure to pass it on. I brought it to my vet’s office when I was finished reading it, they keep it in the lobby. Highly recommend you read this, it will move you. –Sheryl  J.    Lee, NH

Cirque de Squirrel-lay by Juliet Waldron

Juliet Waldron has recently come back to through the Time Tunnel from the 18th Century, the place where most of her books are set. She’s a writer, Grandma and Cat Mother, author of Independent Heart and Mozart’s Wife.  Juliet wrote this wonderful article, and I wanted to share it with you. Juliet writes:

Cute, squirrels-and don’t get me wrong, there’s almost nothing more adorable than a litter-or whatever they are called–of babies, practicing their acrobatics, rejoicing in spring and the abundance of seedy snacks falling from the maple trees. One spring, my best buddy and I were having a cuppa tea and watching the antics of a troop of young ‘uns as they chased, rolled, and swung from impossibly small branches like trapeze artists, when she came up with the best quip of all time: Cirque de Squirrel-lay!  which described their play-time to the letter.

Yes, and squirrels are smart, too, and creative–but just hell on my birdfeeders and on my flowerpots. It’s really a drag to come out onto your porch to see flower sets you just planted tossed or leaning at odd angles because some tree rat has decided he needs that pot for his storage. It’s easier to dig up nice soft potting soil than our hard clay yard. Frankly, I’ve never lived anywhere with such aggressive squirrels. These guys have a look in their eyes that makes me feel they are planning a mugging. Perhaps it’s that we live in a semi-urban area where annoyed gardeners can’t use them for .22 practice as they might in the country, but we do seem in need of a predator.

I’m not exaggerating about the mugging. These squirrels do mug my housecats. Of course, cats are not the nicest animals on the planet, either, if you are a chipmunk or baby rabbit. My dear soft little orange Elizabeth loves to find a new bunny nest and eat them, one by one. I’ve started to curtail her a.m. forays out-of-doors during bunny nesting period, because once she has located a hiding place, she is remorseless.

These squirrels, however, are too much for her. They jump on her back and hang on if she stalks them-and so, wisely, she doesn’t anymore. (I wouldn’t want to be chomped on by teeth which can piece walnut shells either!) As a result, my yard, garden, birdfeeders and flowerpots are under constant siege from these furry pests.