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| Red Cygnet Press, Inc., 11858 Stoney Peak Dr. #525, San Diego, CA 92128 ©2005 Red Cygnet Press • All Rights Reserved • San Diego • California info@redcygnet.com |
Sample Pages
amazon.com reviews and more sample interior pages!
Google book preview!
Midwest Book Review, December 2007
The debut children's book by author and illustrator Ami Blackford, Quest for the Dragon Stone is a
children's book ideal for young readers who are ready for more involved fare than simple picturebooks,
but who also enjoy vibrant and colorful illustrations throughout their stories. Ruth and David have
become involved in The Society of Magebeologists - those dedicated to the study of magical beasts - and
are tending to a beautiful but terribly sick Phoenix Dragon. The gorgeous, orange feathered-and-scaled
creature belongs to a race of dragons that never truly dies; instead they combust into ash, and renew
themselves from an egg within the ashes. Ruth and David witness the dragon's combustion and take it
upon themselves to deliver the egg to a good hatchery. A mysterious message leads them deeper into
the society, which is their strongest connection to their excavationist father gone missing. Quest for the
Dragon Stone is hopefully a stepping stone to more wondrous and fantastic adventures by Ami
Blackford, and is especially recommended for young dragon lovers.
"Every now and then a small, independent press leans forward in the foxhole and proves you don’t have
to be a mega-corporation to have a great idea and execute it with panache. Such is the case for Red
Cygnet, who has decided to become a platform for the very best of young, new talent in the children’s
books arena. They have decided to look for the very best college students who are both writers and
illustrators. This book, one of their first, exemplifies the validity of this approach. Ami has written a
cute magical fantasy and has peopled it with wonderfully drawn characters and settings. The story will
easily evolve as a series while allowing each book to provide just enough information to keep a
reluctant reader curious and involved. We rated this excellent mid-grade work five hearts."
- Heartland Reviews, Bob Spear
Link to the review...
"With a sense of humor and a lively brushstroke, Ami Blackford makes her debut as a children's book
writer and illustrator. Ruth and David's father mysteriously disappeared on a secret mission several
years ago, and the children are determined to find him. Ruth's fieldwork with The Society of
Magbeologists takes her to a magic realm filled with fairies, dragons, gryphons, and phoenix. In this fast-
paced journey, Ruth follows in her father's footsteps and finds a Dragon Stone, a rare find in any world.
As the story ends, the boy and girl are destined to continue their father's work—the excavation of
prized relics, and the preservation of magical beings. Red Cygnet Press brings a young and accomplished
author/illustrator, Ami Blackford, to print just a few months after her graduation from Atlanta College
of Art. Quest for the Dragon Stone is a creative work that will enchant young readers, particularly
those interested in action, adventure, and mythical creatures."
- Children's Literature (Feb. 2007)
"I met Ami during her portfolio exit presentation at the Atlanta College of Art and had the pleasure of
seeing "Dragon Stone" as a work in progress. It is really amazing - so charming and well done. The set-
up is somewhere between "Spiderwick" and "Dragonology." So, do check it out - it's well worth it!"
- Elizabeth O. Dulemba
The Society of Children's Books Writer's and Illustrators
Author/Illustrator Links: www.amiblackford.com, www.amiblackford.blogspot.com, www.
myspace.com/ami143
amazon.com reviews and more sample interior pages!
Google book preview!
Midwest Book Review, December 2007
The debut children's book by author and illustrator Ami Blackford, Quest for the Dragon Stone is a
children's book ideal for young readers who are ready for more involved fare than simple picturebooks,
but who also enjoy vibrant and colorful illustrations throughout their stories. Ruth and David have
become involved in The Society of Magebeologists - those dedicated to the study of magical beasts - and
are tending to a beautiful but terribly sick Phoenix Dragon. The gorgeous, orange feathered-and-scaled
creature belongs to a race of dragons that never truly dies; instead they combust into ash, and renew
themselves from an egg within the ashes. Ruth and David witness the dragon's combustion and take it
upon themselves to deliver the egg to a good hatchery. A mysterious message leads them deeper into
the society, which is their strongest connection to their excavationist father gone missing. Quest for the
Dragon Stone is hopefully a stepping stone to more wondrous and fantastic adventures by Ami
Blackford, and is especially recommended for young dragon lovers.
"Every now and then a small, independent press leans forward in the foxhole and proves you don’t have
to be a mega-corporation to have a great idea and execute it with panache. Such is the case for Red
Cygnet, who has decided to become a platform for the very best of young, new talent in the children’s
books arena. They have decided to look for the very best college students who are both writers and
illustrators. This book, one of their first, exemplifies the validity of this approach. Ami has written a
cute magical fantasy and has peopled it with wonderfully drawn characters and settings. The story will
easily evolve as a series while allowing each book to provide just enough information to keep a
reluctant reader curious and involved. We rated this excellent mid-grade work five hearts."
- Heartland Reviews, Bob Spear
Link to the review...
"With a sense of humor and a lively brushstroke, Ami Blackford makes her debut as a children's book
writer and illustrator. Ruth and David's father mysteriously disappeared on a secret mission several
years ago, and the children are determined to find him. Ruth's fieldwork with The Society of
Magbeologists takes her to a magic realm filled with fairies, dragons, gryphons, and phoenix. In this fast-
paced journey, Ruth follows in her father's footsteps and finds a Dragon Stone, a rare find in any world.
As the story ends, the boy and girl are destined to continue their father's work—the excavation of
prized relics, and the preservation of magical beings. Red Cygnet Press brings a young and accomplished
author/illustrator, Ami Blackford, to print just a few months after her graduation from Atlanta College
of Art. Quest for the Dragon Stone is a creative work that will enchant young readers, particularly
those interested in action, adventure, and mythical creatures."
- Children's Literature (Feb. 2007)
"I met Ami during her portfolio exit presentation at the Atlanta College of Art and had the pleasure of
seeing "Dragon Stone" as a work in progress. It is really amazing - so charming and well done. The set-
up is somewhere between "Spiderwick" and "Dragonology." So, do check it out - it's well worth it!"
- Elizabeth O. Dulemba
The Society of Children's Books Writer's and Illustrators
Author/Illustrator Links: www.amiblackford.com, www.amiblackford.blogspot.com, www.
myspace.com/ami143
| 5 Hearts! - Heartland Reviews! |