HORSE TRAVELS TO
MACKINAC ISLAND
“Don’t rein me in!” says Mac to neigh-sayers.

Traverse City (MI) —Mac’s Mackinac Island Adventure, with text by Mary Beth Vachon and illustrations by Ann G. Rusky, introduces an engaging new character to children’s summer reading. Mac has been called a stick-in-the-mud his whole life. “You’ll never try anything new!” he’s been told by friends. Now that Mac is ready for adventure, those friends are singing a different tune: “HORSES DON’T GO ON VACATION!” they tell Mac.

Will Mac be discouraged and stay home? Hardly!

At every stage of his routine-shattering adventure, the little horse has cold water thrown on his plans. “Horses don’t do that!” he hears over and over. Against the colorful backdrop of Mackinac Island scenes, Mac gains valuable experience in thinking for himself, exploring his own potential as he explores the island.

Suspense, surprise, clip-clopping rhymes and the fun of searching every picture for Mac’s tiny mouse companion will have young readers racing through the book again and again. Children not reading yet for themselves will eagerly urge parents and babysitters, “Turn the page! Turn the page!”

Author Vachon, herself both parent and teacher, will have the appreciation of parents for the time Mac takes to consider objections. Thoughtful and increasingly confident but never headstrong or foolish, Mac is a role model for daredevils, teaching them to pause and think things through, as well as for timid children, encouraging them to say to themselves, as he did, “I know I can do this.”

As vacation souvenir, inspiration for travel or just plain fun, Mac's Mackinac Island Adventure fills the bill.

Mac's Mackinac Island Vacation
By Mary Beth Vachon
illustrated by Ann G. Rusky
ISBN 0-9766104-1-8
$17.95