Tag Archives: fantasy picture book

Day 3 of the 2026 Back to School Blog Tour

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Welcome to day 3 of the Back to School Blog Tour. Today, I have a fantastical, magical surprise for you. It’s Ellie’s Magical Surprise, a picture book that will help beginning readers with their phonics and imagination. Written by Erin Davenport, this beautifully illustrated picture book will sparkle in the minds of any child that wanted to own a unicorn, including myself when I was a child.

Ellie is waking up on what she thinks is a normal day. But after breakfast, she discovers, with help from her mother, someone else living in the horse stables on her farm, a magical unicorn. After exploring each stable, she bonds with the new creature living with the other horses. It’s a pleasant surprise that will enchant any horse owner and child that loves horses.

The first thing that stands out about this picture book is the repeated rhyming words that help with phonics identification for beginning readers. This is a picture book that beginning readers will be able to follow along or read themselves. It brings to mind the early rhyming text used by Dr. Seuss to help children with decoding words. But even better. After exploring the stables on her farm, Ellie discovers a new friend, a unicorn. I am sure the adventures that await them will be enchanting.

I recommend this picture book for teacher’s needing beginning reader books in their reading groups or if teaching reading workshops. It also has a little girl protagonist to give variety in storytelling heroes. The rhyming patterning of the text is great for beginning decoding. It will also be a great fantasy picture book read for parent’s that are homeschooling, especially if your child adores horses and would love to own a unicorn.

Ellie’s Magical Surprise is a beautifully illustrated book that will help any horse-loving child with their phonics and decoding.

This Kindle unlimited book is available on Amazon as a ebook or in print.

For more information on Erin Davenport and her other books, visit her author page here.

Interview for Kevin Asla

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Kevin Asla is the author of the new picture book, “When Fitch Lost Summer”.

If you have a child that loves fantasy, look no further. I’d like to introduce you to Kevin Asla. He’s a children’s picture book author that illustrates and writes his own books. He grew up in London surrounded by his mother’s books. Having studied under an ex-Disney illustrator, he wishes to bring what he has learned to his work. His new book, “When Fitch Lost Summer” reflects the magic he brings into his books as the illustrator and writer.

I had the chance to talk to Kevin Asla about his reading memories, favorite authors, and what future projects he has in store for us.

  1. What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Kevin Asla: My mother would get me books every day, so it’s hard to pick a favourite moment.


2) Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Kevin Asla: My influence comes more from the storytelling found in video games like Spyro the Dragon.


3) Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

Kevin Asla: I tend to write stories by primarily using storyboards and refining dialogue once the main action of the scene has been set up. I have the whole stories skeleton pretty much clear in my head and then storyboard chunks, a few pages at a time, with some place holder dialogue and then go back in and lock down the words.


4) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Kevin Asla: I am currently finishing the “When Fitch Lost Summer” series, but after that, I would like to write a more educational book about Vikings.

5) What is writing to you in one sentence?

Kevin Asla: Writing is story-telling, presenting viewers with a fantasy and hope they enjoy it.

“When Fitch Lost Summer” is a charming fantasy about a Fox looking for a Lost World of Summer. Fox wakes up in the mysterious Land of Autumn. Where did Summer go? Fitch sets off to look for Summer. Along the way, he encounters new friends and strange, magical things. But will it be enough to get him back to Summer?

“When Fitch Lost Summer” is available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.

Ebooks are also available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.

For more information on Kevin Asla, please visit his website at kevinasla.com.

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