News Releases via BeachHouse Publishing
Lio the Carousel Horse
Illustrator Ruth Moen has teamed up with her sister, Carol Moen Wing, to create a new children’s book that introduces kids to Hawai‘i through a horse’s eyes—Lio the Carousel Horse—and introduces the concept of discovering one’s place in the world.
Lio is a carousel horse at one of Hawai‘i’s carnivals. He loves being on the merry-go-round and making kids happy—until, one day, Lio decides to break free and see what lies beyond the carousel …
Kids will enjoy following Lio on his adventure as he learns what his life might be like if he were a different type of horse. And it will give kids reassurance to know that everyone needs to venture out and discover who they are; sometimes you are led far from home (something island kids can especially relate to) and sometimes you are led right back.
About the Author and Illustrator
Carol Moen Wing grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. After earning degrees in music history from the University of California at Berkeley and the Eastman School of Music, she worked as an editor and wrote her first novel. Inspired by her love of books, she decided to pursue a master’s degree in Library and Information Science and now works as a research librarian at Lucasfilm, a movie studio in northern California. She lives in Oakland with her husband, her dog, and a large assortment of musical instruments. Ruth and Carol wrote an earlier version of this book, “The Carousel Horse,” when Carol was 7 years old and Ruth was 9.
Ruth Moen was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in graphic design and illustration. After graduating, she moved to Hawai‘i where she has worked as an art director, designer, muralist, and illustrator for ad agencies, design firms, and a Japanese department store. Her love of horses began at age 18 months after riding her uncle’s horse Babe. She has been drawing and painting horses as long as she could hold a pencil. She lives on O‘ahu with her family, which includes her dog, her cat, and her horse Belle.
Ruth Moen, the illustrator, will be signing books as scheduled:
October 23, Barnes & Noble Kahala Mall @ 1 pm
November 13 Borders Books & Music Ward @ noon
November 20 at Barnes & Noble Ala Moana @ 11 am
November 27 at Borders Books & Music Waikele @ noon
Free bags of cotton candy will be handed out to kids!
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Kekoa and the Egg Mystery
Honolulu—Author Tia Walls and illustrator Holly Braffet both call Maui home, and together have created a colorful children’s book titled Kekoa and the Egg Mystery that simultaneously captures that neighbor-island feel and gives it a modern, quasi comic-book look sure to appeal to young readers.
Kekoa wakes one morning to find all the eggs missing from his family’s chicken coop and wonders who could have taken the eggs. Coincidentally, all the people he meets throughout his day have eggs to offer. Did one of them take his eggs?
In the end, Kekoa discovers the true culprit and learns he can’t point fingers so easily. It’s a story that gently celebrates the innocence of a young child’s logic and teaches the simple lesson of not jumping to conclusions. The illustrations also deftly depict a typical child’s day in rural parts of Hawai‘i—from Kaneohe to Hana to Hanalei, Hawai‘i’s kids will be able to relate to Kekoa.
About the Author and Illustrator
Tia Monteaux Walls received a BA in Journalism from the University of Montana, where she was awarded the honor of being chosen as a 2002 Chips Quinn Scholar for minorities in journalism. Although she was born and raised in Montana, Tia readily admits that palm trees are way better than pine trees. She now lives in Haiku, Maui, with her husband, their crazy Jack Russell terrier, two cats, and four chickens. Tia enjoys reading books in the sun, doing yoga with friends, and traveling to faraway places.
Holly Braffet has a BFA from Ringling College of Art and Design, and an MLIS from UH Manoa. She is a librarian in Hana, where she lives with her family and three fat cats. When she isn’t drawing, Holly knits sweaters for her teapots and reads comic books.
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