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The Magic of Misty Nook: A Magical Misty Nook Festival Book Tour

Cover Blurb

In the midst of summer, the elves of Misty Nook bring together the beloved animals of past and present
for a Magical Misty Nook Festival.

In an afternoon filled with treats and snacks, games, adventure, and plenty of exploration, the Misty Nook family is ready to romp and play. What kind of day have the elves dreamed up for the beloved pets who have called Misty Nook their home? Bear the Rottweiler makes a splashy appearance, as do new friends and alumni alike. It’s all for a day of unforgettable celebrations that remind the animals just how loved they are.

Other Titles By the Author

Christine Skippins

Author Bio

Christine (Chris) Skippins held a long career in finance before focusing on her writing and illustration, and it didn't take long for her to recognise her niche once that happened. After signing up at a local animal rescue centre in an effort to get involved in a local charity, Chris discovered the inspiration for her series, The Magic of Misty Nook.
As a teenager, Chris worked in a pet shop, where she frequently tried to adopt, often against her parent's wishes, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even puppies that needed homes. Her father eventually gave in and allowed Whiskey the Collie to arrive at her home. Over the years, Whiskey and numerous other pets shared their lives with Chris, but her transformative experience came whilst volunteering at a local animal rescue centre. She was inspired by the animals and the team that rehabilitated them. At that moment, The Magic of Misty Nook was born. Today, she brings wonderful animal characters to life by telling how scared and lonely souls find love and kindness at Misty Nook.
A native of Chichester, England, Chris is Mum to a grown son and daughter, Frankie and Baylie, her cats and Rizzo the spaniel. She is Nanny to her five-year-old Grandson, Harry, Ivy the Labrador, and Rolo the Spaniel. A naturally active and creative person, Chris spends her mornings out walking Rizzo, forming stories in her head as they walk the beautiful countryside and beaches around their home.
Losing herself in a good book in her garden with a glass of wine is one of her favourite ways to unwind.

The Book Tour

Day 1 - Favourite Quotes

‘So many goofy smiles and wagging doggy tails, and you cats are all looking fine with your sleek, colourful coats and big, bright eyes!’ (Bronwyn McKay)

Some cats like the rope bridges with wooden slats that sway slightly in the summer breeze, like a hammock. They enjoy assessing their balancing skills and are happy to parade backward and forward, crouching down as their slinky bodies crawl, channelling their inner tiger! (Michelle Marshall)

“Bear the Rottweiler, who feels like he has harnessed his inner fish, is happily swimming around in circles, splashing with his large, ginger front paws as they power him forward, then expertly catching the splashes in his mouth as he swims into them.” (Sarah Richardson)

Unlike dogs, cats are not interested in being the fastest, the bravest, or the best, but they can be adventurous when it suits them, and they do like to take their time to explore, especially younger cats who are keen to improve their climbing skills as they enthusiastically scrabble up poles and branches and onto the highest wooden platforms. (Tim Marshall)

Woody loves that all tails are wagging happily, and the chorus of yappy excited squeals fills his ears as each dog adds to the growing piles of bright green tennis balls. (Yvonne Marrs)

The picnic at the end of the afternoon is happy and noisy. The whole family sits around the picnic feast reliving their best bits from the afternoon’s activities, some with pride, some with humour, but all with joy at having had such a wonderful summer festival. (Tania Marshall)

After all, cats do like to male the rules rather than follow them! (Kirsty McKay)

Day 2 - Character Summaries

Woody: Woody is one of the elves who has helped to organise this fantastic festival for the Dogs and Cats of Misty Nook. He seems a very kind and nurturing elf, who finds joy in having everyone together, and has helped to establish the Misty Nook community. He is very endearing and is the perfect example of what it should be like to treat animals and how much love and appreciation we should have for our furry friends. He finds the greatest of qualities and attributes of the individual animals to positively demonstrate and highlight throughout the events that take place within the festival, and you can see the incredible relationship between the individuals of the Misty Nook Community, as they participate in the festival events. (Bronwyn McKay)

Molly: As if the fact she’s a cat that she resembles a “large fluffy owl” isn’t enough in her favour, she also perches on a platform looking down at the chaos below. I can definitely relate to playing this role at a busy event! (Michelle Marshall)

Bear: Our favourite dog was Bear, because he reminds us of our big dog Willow who also loves to swim. The passage about him was very descriptive and we even acted out what we thought he looked like splashing. The kids also loved Woody because he was narrating the whole thing, although there was some confusion at first about who the elves were. (Sarah Richardson)

Molly: My favourite of the animals depicted in the book is Molly, the cat who looks like an owl. (Tim Marshall)

Ollie: Ollie the Collie is Woody’s helper in the tennis balls game, a clever dog “who is the smartest and the best at counting.” I love the illustration of him on page 8. He is probably one of the dogs that most readers will know in real life, and can be more readily identified with. His scene proves that he has authority, and it is not to be questioned. There are several animals in this book who are named, and therefore more easily appreciated by readers. They are all given traits that the species have in real life, which brings them to life in front of us as we follow the story. (Yvonne Marrs)

Woody: Woody is the most memorable character of this story to me. The story is told from his point of view and reflects many of his traits. The author assumes that we already know about Woody from other stories in the series so we don’t actually get an in depth introduction in this book but there are clues woven throughout the book to identify some specific characteristics about Woody. Woody shows leadership as he confirms that everything is set up for the festival and is running smoothly. He is conscientious- making sure that everyone is having fun in their own preferred way. Woody is loved and respected as a fair and impartial judge as he selects the winners for each of the festival competitions. It is easy to see that Woody is deemed a good guy! (Tania Marshall)

Frank the Terrier just for his rhythmic ripples and impressive boogie. Who doesn't love a dog that can dance and really get into the groove! (Kirsty McKay)

Day 3 - Favourite Excerpts

‘No prizes or awards are needed for them. Every single one is a winner, and they are having fun together as a family! This has warmed Woodie’s heart. His cat friends nearly always pose a challenge when they arrive at Misty Nook, but look at them now- happy, healthy, and having fun with friends!’ (Bronwyn McKay)

“Welcome to all of you, it’s wonderful to see you all again! So many goofy smiles and wagging doggy tails, and you cats are all looking fine with your sleek, colourful coats and big, bright eyes!” (Michelle Marshall)

“On Woody’s signal pure pandemonium erupts as the assembled dogs spring, jump, run, or tentatively paddle in the lake’s cool waters. Those with longer legs go deeper in than those with shorter legs, but as the splashing momentum starts, the excitement builds to a fever pitch!” (Sarah Richardson)

You need to have long legs to be good at this game . . . or short legs with lots of spring to seek out higher hiding places! (Tim Marshall)

Woody tells everyone, “Ollie the Collie has kindly offered to do the counting. He is the smartest and the best at counting, so if you take your balls to him once the game is over, he will work out who wins a prize. We have created some ingenious hiding places this year, so my advice to you all is: don’t just look in obvious nooks!” (Yvonne Marrs)

“I declare the Misty Nook Summer Festival open!” Woody announces as he beams at the assembled audience. “Welcome to all of you, it’s wonderful to see you all again! So many goofy smiles and wagging doggy tails, and you cats are all looking fine with your sleek, colourful coats and big, bright eyes! (Tania Marshall)

Bear the Rottweiler, who feels likes he has harnessed his inner fish, is happily swimming around in circles, splashing with his large, ginger front paws as they power him forwards, then expertly catching the splashes in his mouth as he swims into them. The warm sun glints golden flecks on his thick, seal-like wet fur as he glides into his splashes. (Kirsty McKay)

Day 4 - Video Interview

Day 5 - Reviews

Overall rating: 4.5 stars. The Magic of Misty Nook a Magical Misty Nook Festival is the latest book in author Christine Skippin’s ‘The Magic of Misty Nook’ series. It takes the young readers on a whimsical adventure filled with friendship and joy. The underlying message of love and appreciation of our furry friends truly shines throughout the story. It reiterates to the young readers the importance of compassion and kindness towards animals, as well as teaching them the value of empathy and caring for others. The author weaves a heartwarming narrative that revolves around the Misty Nook family and their cherished animal companions. From Bear the Rottweiler to a host of new friends and beloved alumni, each character brings their unique personality and charm to the festival. Young readers will be captivated by the vivid descriptions of the Misty Nook residents as they romp, play, and embark on thrilling adventures throughout the day. The illustrations in the book further enhance the enchanting atmosphere of the story. The whimsical artwork vividly brings the characters and Misty Nook itself to life, captivating readers with its colourful and detailed imagery. Overall, this title is an enchanting tale that will ignite the imaginations of young readers. It has very memorable characters as well as a delightful storyline that highlights very significant messages for the author’s desired audience. (Bronwyn McKay)

Overall rating: 4.5 stars. This lovely children’s book centres around a festival that is taking place in Misty Nook. It’s a magical place and proves a suitable summer setting for the events of the story to unfold. The illustrations throughout are charming and capture real personality in the animals. As well as being fun and easy to follow, the book provides information about the different assets each type of animal can bring to the events they compete in. This is a good message to give to children, as it shows that different beings have their own particular skills and talents and just because you don’t shine in one area, it doesn’t mean you can’t be a star in another! (Michelle Marshall)

Overall rating: 4.5 stars. This was an interesting concept, and the illustrations were beautiful. The kids loved seeing all the different breeds of dogs and cats and trying to figure out which ones look most like our own pets. The descriptions were vivid and overall the story was quite enjoyable. (Sarah Richardson)

Overall rating: 4.5 stars. The Magic of Misty Nook: A Magical Misty Nook Festival is a lovely book that continues the story of the Misty Nook animals. Beyond having cute pictures illustrated by the author herself, the thing that stands out to me is the way that the book leads the reader to consider the different traits of various dogs and cats and how they impact their abilities and behaviour and appearance. It encourages an appreciation for the diversity of the animal kingdom in a celebratory manner. (Tim Marshall)

Overall rating: 4.5 stars. Part of a series, this book brings back some older characters and some new ones. The elves of Misty Nook love to share their home with their beloved animal friends, and this is a day of celebration for them all. The magical Misty Nook Festival has carefully thought out activities and treats for everyone. With a steady pace, this imaginative and engaging tale (or should that be ‘tail’?) shows us a glimpse into the life of the animals of Misty Nook. Each character is vividly realistic and brought to life with great illustrations and dialogue. I found only an issue with the consistency of Woody’s name, it is Woody mostly but Woodie is also used. (Yvonne Marrs)

Overall rating: 4.5 stars. The Magic of Misty Nook- A Magical Mystery Nook Festival by Christine Skippins is a delightful, well written children’s story filled with a multitude of relatable characters. The author showcases a talent for describing the antics of each character and pulls the reader into the excitement of the festival events. The book is well edited and easy to read. The author draws you into the story from the beginning and takes you right through to a satisfying climax that leaves you feeling as though you have just ended a whirlwind day and are ready to sit back and relax with the characters as they reminisce with pride and contentment about their day at the Magical Misty Nook Festival. (Tania Marshall)

Overall rating: 4.5 stars. I love the fact that the Author has built her stories around an animal rescue centre, and that she showcases their gorgeous personalities through her wonderful characters. As an animal lover myself, I am a huge fan of Christine's books, particularly as they raise much needed awareness of the plight of so many unwanted and abused animals. There are far too many dogs and cats in rescue centre's, through no fault of their own, all who are seeking love, and a family to call their own. It is truly heartbreaking. And so I wholeheartedly commend the Author for the imaginative and creative way that she is reaching out to families, and changing opinions about rescue animals, with such positive and powerful storytelling. Christine's latest book is beautifully written and illustrated. A book full of joy & playfulness that you cannot help but be reminded of just how much animals can and do enrich your life. This story is about true celebration as the Author brings together dogs and cats and gives them a day to remember. A day where they can do all the things they enjoy, that make them special, and allow them to forget about their sad and lonely circumstances. And it is a great way for preparing children and families to own a pet, by understanding their individual natures and needs. Highly recommend. (Kirsty McKay)