SEATTLE, Dec. 10, 2009 — When thinking of adventure, far away lands and foreign experiences are often what first come to mind. In their new children's picture book, "Keiko & the Crow" (published by AuthorHouse), Judy Lane and Robert Maughan Jr. offer excitement at readers' fingertips with the story of their pet Siberian Husky, Keiko, and a local family of crows they befriend during their daily walks in their local park. Lane writes:
Now everyone knows that a crow and a dog might not get along.
So could they really play or share or even sing a song?
After all, as long as their cousin, the raven, has lived near wolves, this has been true.
But would it be so for these two?
…Keiko looked up and smiled, and made his puppy's play bow
— a friendly invitation for all to see, making this crow his playmate to be.
So a strange new dance developed on that beautiful, magical day between this native Northwestern crow and the husky puppy named Keiko.
The story of "Keiko & the Crow" unfolds through whimsical rhyme with accompanying original art and photographic imagery by Lane, showing readers that a world of excitement and discovery awaits just steps away from their own home. The basis for this story developed over the span of a year, as Lane observed and photographed the initial interactions between Keiko and the crows, aptly named Crooked Feather Girl and Bold Boy. While crows are often considered by many to be annoying at times, readers will be endeared to them by this unlikely relationship. When asked what the message she hopes readers will take away from reading this book, Lane writes:
I have presented the story at schools as an opportunity for a child to develop their own stories that can happen in their own yard or local park and with their own pets or other familiar animals with very simple cameras and/or drawings — that it isn't necessary to travel to exotic places — interesting things are happening around you all the time. I hope to convey that perhaps getting to know an individual animal, bird (or person!) and having some shared experience, could make the difference in your future relationships.
About the Author
Judy Lane and Robert Maughan Jr. are long time residents of Seattle and have shared their lives with a number of wonderful Siberian Husky characters throughout all these years. They both are thankful to live near a beautiful park in Seattle where the daily dog walk is also a chance to observe, photograph and write about the local wildlife in the Puget Sound area.
For more information, please visit http://www.crookedfeathergirlstudio.com/.
AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com.
EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:
Kristy Ketterman
Tel: 888-728-8467 ext. 5224
Fax: 812-961-3133
Email: Email
(When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)
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