ISBN: 978-1-4327-0324-0

Publisher: Outskirts Press 

Sally Taylor has come to understand the power of faith, love and ultimately forgiveness through her own experiences in life. It is from here that she has used a colourful blend of experience, talent and imagination to create The Magic in You with work progressing quickly on a follow-up. 

The Magic In You is a children’s book that follows the theme “forgiveness”. This tells a tale of a little flower who grows by the side of a road. One day a Billy goat comes trotting along and eats one of her splendid petals. She is so sad and the other flowers all start to laugh at her. To make matters worse the next thing she knows, a horrid car has run over her green leaf.  She cries into the night when out of a near-by forest a fairy appears who asks why she is so upset. When she tells her of her troubles and asks the fairy to wave her magic wand to make things better again, the fairy replies “You do not need my magic to become beautiful or happy. You can become a beautiful, happy little flower any time you want”.

The little flower struggles to find comfort in these words but the next morning the flower learns that her injuries can actually help others. This makes her happy but the question is will she ever be a beautiful flower again?

This is an absolutely beautifully illustrated book with a good positive attitude woven throughout the uplifting storyline. The pictures inside will definitely appeal to children ages 3 through to 11.

I personally would have loved this book when I was a child and the wonderful pictures of the magical woodlands would have entranced me as much as they do today. I loved the opening page with all the gold sparkling wildflowers in the heart of the forest. The next page is as wonderful, with the moon spreading its warm glow onto the sleeping flowers or as the author says so superbly: “Even at night, while the forest slept and the moon was full, you could see the reflection of warm moonlight flickering off the delicate petals”. 

Sally has a wonderful gift of story telling with her marvellous use of words and imagery.

Even adults can read this book and enjoy it so much. I’d also recommend discussing the issues spoken of with your children too as it will help them understand when they grow up that through the love of yourself, you can be beautiful and happy.

This is a spellbinding story that children will treasure for many years to come.

The above review was contributed by: Jessica Roberts:  Jessica is a book reviewer for a local newspaper and has reviewed for a national women's magazine too. She has had various articles published in magazines and has now completed her novel. Jessica currently lives in West Yorkshire and enjoys walking in the dales and woodlands as part of her hobby as well as, of course, reviewing books. To read more of Jessica's reviews  CLICK HERE