THE PICTURE STONE
By David G. Hepworth
Trafford Publishing
Children's Fantasy
Softcover
Copyright 2006
www.davehepworth.com
76 pages
$10.96 USD / $12.60 CAD
ISBN: 1-4120-9053-9
David G. Hepworth's first children's book, The Picture Stone, is a delightfully refreshing tale of the power of imagination. In a world where children's lives are now filled with video games and personal dvd players, Hepworth resurrects the charms of carefree afternoons and "what if..."
Mindy Magee and her family travel to a lakeside cottage, where Mindy's adventure begins. As she drifts off to dream under a tree in the meadow, she's startled by a magical creature, Bolo, who tells her about a princess and a party in a faraway land. Princess Min has sent Bolo to offer Mindy a special invitation to the party and Mindy excitedly accepts the invitation.
The day of the party we meet a talking frog, learn about a magic stick that offers travel between "here" and "there," discover enchanted rainbow bracelets that allow party guests from many different cultures to understand one another, and realize the significance of the Picture Stone.
The Picture Stone is not only entertaining, but provides an opening for discussion about friendship spanning cultural and geographical distances. For children of all ages: 2 to 102.
4 out of 5 smiling princesses
Reviewed by True North, gottawritenetwork.com
July 10, 2007
SECRETS OF THE MEADOW
By David G. Hepworth
Timber Ridge Publishing
Childrens' Fantasy
Softcover
Copyright 2007
www.davehepworth.com
ISBN: 978-0-9783117-0-4
Hepworth's newest children's book, Secrets of the Meadow, will take adults back to their own campfire story nights with Grandpa's "scary" stories as they read it chapter by chapter to young children. Children will wonder wide-eyed at the mystery of The Blackburn Legend.
The Magees are off once again to the country cottage. After marshmallows and watching stars squinting and twinkling in the night sky, Grandpa tells a tall tale as the fire dies down: the legend of gentle "old man Blackburn" and his beautifully handcrafted violins. Grandpa explains that "old man Blackburn" created his famous violins out of an unknown, but lovely, wood. He explains that the old man and his violins receded into local legend and that the old man's cabin was never found, nor the special wood he used ever discovered.
The Magee sisters, Tess and Mindy, organize an expedition with Grandpa and their cousins to search for the mysterious cabin, hoping to discover the legend is true. Tess finds more than she expects to find after repairing an unusual old chair she found under a gnarled pine. She learns the story behind the legend of "old man Blackburn" and his famous singing violins. Adults and children alike will find themselves smiling as they read Secrets of the Meadow.
With a bit of polish, Hepworth's books could become the new Chronicles of Narnia.
4.5 out of 5 singing violins
Reviewed by True North, gottawritenetwork.com
July 10, 2007
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Reviews by True North
The Picture Stone
By David G. Hepworth
Trafford Publishing
Secrets of the Meadow
By David G. Hepworth
Timber Ridge Publishing
True North
An avid reader, North's first after-school job was at the local library, which inspired her to type up a neighborhood newsletter on her antique, portable Royale typewriter. Her professional and creative writing pieces have been published and her editing skills regularly requested by colleagues.
North enjoys traveling, the outdoors, the fine arts and exploring cultural arts. While she reads just about anything she can get her hands on, her preference leans toward non-fiction, biographies, mysteries, adventure and historical fiction. Once, she started a book club playfully titled, Cabin Fever Classics.
You can probably find her on a trail in the mountains somewhere, leaning back against a tree during a break, reading a book.
