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The Magic of Misty Nook: To the Rescue Book Tour

Cover Blurb

Misty Nook is a sanctuary for Cats and Dogs that need a safe and caring place to stay. It is run by an Animal Brother and Sisterhood that provides love and care to all animals that come to stay with them-believing that every animal deserves to be treated with kindness and respect.

When sad, sick, or homeless pets arrive at Misty Nook, they are welcomed into the family, and the Misty Nook Magic and lots and lots of love help them find happiness and a forever home so they can become the Dog or Cat they were born to be.

In this story, the Magic of Misty Nook makes it possible for twenty lucky cats and ten lucky dogs to go and live their best lives on wonderful, Friendly Island.

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 recognize 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 father's wishes, the rabbits, guinea pigs, and even puppies that needed homes. Her father eventually gave in and allowed Whiskey the Collie to arrive in her home. Over the years, Whiskey and numerous other pets shared their lives with Chris, but her transformative experience came while helping at an animal sanctuary. Chris found renewed admiration for the animals and the team that rehabilitated him. In 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. She is Nanny to her four-year-old grandson, Harry, Ivy the Labrador, and Rolo the cocker spaniel.

A naturally active and creative person, Chris loves her morning walks with her own dog Rizzo and often finds that her stories form in her head whilst she is walking.

Losing herself in a good book in her garden on the beautiful Sussex coast with a glass of wine is one of her favourite ways to unwind.

The Book Tour

Day 1 - Favourite Quotes

"As the meeting progressed, Little Frank senior, who had been dozing off, suddenly shook himself to attention and tried to focus on the discussion. Despite his grogginess, he was able to signal his agreement to the group using just one eye." (Eryn McConnell)

"A partnership had today been born, meaning that they would be able to give more of their animals the wonderful opportunity to come and find their forever homes on Friendly Island." (Jane Clack)

"The Misty Nook team gathered all the required paperwork, double-checking every detail to ensure a smooth journey ahead. The twenty cats and ten dogs selected for the journey jumped excitedly, wagged tails, and meowed joyfully. They were incredibly excited for what lay ahead - a new adventure full of possibilities." (Phoebe Wilby)

"A partnership had today been born, meaning that they would be able to give more of their animals the wonderful opportunity to come and find their forever homes on Friendly island." (Sophie Jupillat Posey)

“Excitement filled Woody’s heart as he thought about the possibility of helping his friend and finding homes for the animals in need.” (Yvonne Marrs)

Day 2 - Character Summaries

Madeline: I liked Madeline the Mama cat, who took the foster kits in. There was something very warm about her. (Eryn McConnell)

Woody: My favourite character is Woody, the Chief Elder, as he is so keen to help to find homes for animals in need. He works quickly to formulate plans and galvanises everyone into action. He is feisty, has a fierce sense of responsibility, but is not daunted by taking on challenging tasks. He has a meticulous approach to ensuring that all the animals are well matched to their new forever homes. (Jane Clack)

Madeline: So many loveable characters to choose from, but Madeline, the Cattery Nursery Manager has to be my favourite. She has great compassion for the kittens and knows each of them perfectly. She considers carefully which kittens to choose for their new homes, taking into account their individual personalities and where they will be happiest. (Phoebe Wilby)

Woody: It was hard choosing just one character to root for. This book has a vast cast of characters, and so it is hard to choose just one. I think the mentor figures are the ones that are more fleshed out; so I choose Woody. He is the one who moves the story forward the most, and who has a lot of hopes to fulfill. He collaborates with Bear in order to help him populate Friendly Island with kittens and puppies in need. We have the most background on Woody; he is altruistic and kind, and he does everything in his power to make sure the transfer of the animals to Friendly Island is seamless and as calm as possible. He has some worries and doubts here and there but he pushes through with relentless positivity and in the end he does manage to see things through. He was a delight to follow as he pursued his plans. He is the leading guide in the story, yet he works well with his Misty Nook team. Development-wise there isn’t too much change; but the plot continues forward and there is a happy ending. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)

Woody: There are so many great characters! Woody, the main character, is the best, I feel. As the leader of Misty Nook, he always works hard to achieve the very best for the animals under his care - be they cats, dogs or others. He is a character that everyone could relate to, he inspires readers to try their hardest at challenges they face, thanks to his resilience and determination. “As Woody wrapped up his phone call with Bear, his face reflected a mix of emotions - a sense of responsibility, a tinge of anxiety, and a hint of excitement.” Most of us have felt like this after making a decision, and can associate it with these mixed emotions. (Yvonne Marrs)

Day 3 - Favourite Excerpts

'The cardboard box was old and battered, with missing flaps and frayed edges. It was hidden beneath a hedge but could not conceal the two small bodies huddled together inside. Boycee and his brother, Benjamin Black, were barely visible in the gloom, their fur matted and dull. They looked up at their rescuer with big, frightened eyes, unsure whether to trust them. The stranger scooped them up gently and carried them away, promising to take care of them. He took them to Misty Nook.' (Eryn McConnell)

'Excitement filled Woody’s heart as he thought about the possibility of helping his friend and finding homes for the animals in need. The next day, he scheduled a meeting with the Misty Nook Elders, also known as the Brother and Sisterhood. Woody knew he needed to discuss the matter with them first, but he was confident they would agree. And that night, as he lay in his bed, he could not sleep because he was excited at the prospect of calling his old friend Bear and sharing the good news with him after the meeting.' (Jane Clack)

'Madeline gracefully weaved her way through the cosy nursery, her bushy tail held high and her eyes bright with anticipation. She approached each kitten in turn, nuzzling and purring as she went. Her affectionate gestures were met with a chorus of meows and playful swats as the kittens vied for her attention.' (Phoebe Wilby)

'In the following weeks, Boycee and Benjamin Black slowly began to recover. They were given plenty of food, water, and warmth and were surrounded by a kind and caring team who showered them with love and attention. As they grew stronger, they began to explore their new surroundings, playing with toys and chasing each other around the room. Eventually, they became confident and energetic young cats and decided to stay and work at Misty Nook to help others like them.' It is heartwarming to see how people/animals become advocates for others who need help. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)

'The Brother and Sisterhood believe that every animal deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. Once they arrive at Misty Nook, they are welcomed into the family..' Although this is from the Introduction it is the overall theme of this book, and an important lesson for everyone, not just children, to learn! (Yvonne Marrs)

Day 4 - Video Interview

Day 5 - Reviews

Overall Star Rating: 4.5 stars. This is a very wholesome book about a dog who runs a rescue shelter for dogs and cats. It has lovely illustrations and it touches on the trauma that abandoned animals experience, without going too deep. (Eryn McConnell)

Overall Star Rating: 4.5 stars. Yet another engaging tale by author and illustrator Christine Skippins, who volunteers at an animal rescue centre. In ‘The Magic of Misty Nook - To the Rescue’, the Animal Brother and Sisterhood, led by the indomitable Chief Elder, Woody, help 20 lucky cats and 10 fortunate dogs find their forever homes on Friendly Island by airlifting them via helicopter and matching them up with their fabulous forever homes. Children will be delighted by the different animal characters and charmed by the accompanying whimsical illustrations. Crucially, they will also be taught an important lifelong lesson - that animals deserve to be loved and treated with kindness and respect. (Jane Clack)

Overall Star Rating: 4.5 Stars. Christines’ story is set in Misty Nook, a magical animal sanctuary for cats and dogs who have fallen on hard times and need a safe place to stay. A Brotherhood and Sisterhood of animals run the home, providing love and care to all. When Woody sees an ad in The Friendly Island Times for puppies and kittens needed for good homes, he has the brilliant idea that some of their little puppy and kitten friends could find their forever homes there. He enlists the help of the rest of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood to select the perfect puppies and kittens to fulfil the needs of the Friendly Island residents while giving them a loving home and a new purpose. The Magic of Misty Nook To The Rescue is a great story for children to learn that everyone deserves to be happy and cared for. Through the voices of the cats and dogs, Skippins encourages children to seek friendships wherever they can be found, but more importantly, to understand that each child is special, and deserves to be encouraged to live their best life, whatever that may be. This is a well-edited book full of loveable characters who tug at the heartstrings. Each puppy or kitten is true to the characteristics of their breed and enriches the story with their diversity. The dialogue is sparse, but relevant, and the story is evenly paced. For me, though, it’s the illustrations that make it. Skippins has captured the personalities of all the animals and their facial expressions are all adorable. (Phoebe Wilby)

Overall Star Rating: 4.5 Stars. This is a cute, charming story about a sanctuary for cats and dogs, run by cats and dogs. In this particular book, the rescued animals of Misty Nook have the chance to come to Friendly Island to find their forever home. The creativity of the possibilities in which the rescued animals can be loved, and be useful too was interesting. There is a diverse cast of characters with unique quirks and histories. Because the cast is so big, it is hard to focus and root for just one character. The lack of dialogue means the story unfolds more through telling than through showing; which is a bit of a shame, as the characters would stand out even more if there were distinctive passages or lines. All in all, all the characters are easy to love, and one cheers them on as they push forward with populating Friendly Island. The book moves at a decent pace, though a lot is heavy on the prep at the beginning, and the ending goes by quickly considering the set-up. This is a calming read which inspires positivity and fosters the urge to help others in need. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)

Overall Star 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. (Yvonne Marrs)