Fantastic! Fun-tastic! Fawn-tastic!!
The Adventures of Fawn is an exciting award-winning 'coming-of-age' series. 'Til the Last Snowflake Falls is the first entry in this series, which has also won a number of awards on its own. The year is 1849, and legendary reindeer Comet and Vixen have a young daughter, Fawn. In this first book, 'Til the Last Snowflake Falls, the young reindeer spends far too many days alone in the stable at Santa's Village, with no friends and nothing to do. While her parents caution her she's much too young and inexperienced to go exploring outside the Village by herself, Fawn disagrees. Declaring, “I want some fun and excitement! I don’t care how dangerous it is!” she begins sneaking out each day in search of friends, excitement and adventure. She'll find them all...but also find herself in dangerous situations she's unprepared for! She’ll realize perhaps a bit too late that mom and dad were right all along! And, she'll learn some valuable lessons about what's really important in life. The Adventures of Fawn are filled with fun, laughs, excitement, and magical entertainment for readers all ages! 'Til the Last Snowflake Falls was awarded the Bronze Medal in Dan Poynter's 2017 Global E-book Awards, received an Honoree Medallion from indie B.R.A.G. Awards, a Reader's Favorite Five Star Award, One Stop Fiction Books' Five Star Award, and Literary Titan's Silver Book Award.
Some exciting reviews
From One Stop Fiction---Book Award
Theme of the Book The Adventures of Fawn: Till the Last Snowflake Falls is a book about the importance of friendships, about faith, and about growing up. Fawn's life changes as she makes lifelong friends and discovers that friendship can overcome the most frightening moments. This importance of friendship is the crux of a story whose lessons are applicable to children, teens and adults.
What I Liked About the Story One of the most appealing things about the book is the naturalness of language used by the characters. Fawn and her friends speak like young teenagers with none of the artificiality of typical fairy tale stories. Fawn rolls her eyes at her parents; she mumbles under her breath; she uses mild sarcasm and mild "swear" words ("Darnit!"); she teases her friends the way a normal young person would. The friends invent new words by combining two old ones: terrilized and amtastic are just two examples. Mr. Boy must spend a lot of time around young teens to have captured them so perfectly.
The dangers Fawn and her friends face, while dramatic, are not traumatizing for young readers or listeners. They are of the same order as dangers faced in popular Disney films where, while there is tension and suspense, the outcome is never unknown. The dangerous situations are based on what might actually happen in the Arctic: attack by animals, capture by humans, blizzards. This provides a subtle learning experience for young readers more used to mythical monsters and threats.
The plot is engaging, the descriptions of Santa's village appealing, and the characters from Fawn to Dr. Mary Weather very likeable. The villains are just comical enough not to be too frightening. There is magic in use, but not to the extent that it overwhelms the actions of the characters. There is no "the wizard will save us" attitude here; in fact, it is the characters themselves who provide the most satisfying of endings.
The illustrations are in a naïve style, but definitely add humor to the story.
What I Didn't Like About the Story There is very little not to like about The Adventures of Fawn: Till the Last Snowflake Falls. I did wonder if the setting of Santa's village was at the same level of age appropriateness as the plot and readability. Will children of 10, who can read the story themselves, feel comfortable with a tale about Santa and his reindeer or will they feel that the setting is too babyish for them?
Final Say This is a delightful, charming, humorous, yet meaningful story perfect for young children to read alone or to have read to them.
What I Liked About the Story One of the most appealing things about the book is the naturalness of language used by the characters. Fawn and her friends speak like young teenagers with none of the artificiality of typical fairy tale stories. Fawn rolls her eyes at her parents; she mumbles under her breath; she uses mild sarcasm and mild "swear" words ("Darnit!"); she teases her friends the way a normal young person would. The friends invent new words by combining two old ones: terrilized and amtastic are just two examples. Mr. Boy must spend a lot of time around young teens to have captured them so perfectly.
The dangers Fawn and her friends face, while dramatic, are not traumatizing for young readers or listeners. They are of the same order as dangers faced in popular Disney films where, while there is tension and suspense, the outcome is never unknown. The dangerous situations are based on what might actually happen in the Arctic: attack by animals, capture by humans, blizzards. This provides a subtle learning experience for young readers more used to mythical monsters and threats.
The plot is engaging, the descriptions of Santa's village appealing, and the characters from Fawn to Dr. Mary Weather very likeable. The villains are just comical enough not to be too frightening. There is magic in use, but not to the extent that it overwhelms the actions of the characters. There is no "the wizard will save us" attitude here; in fact, it is the characters themselves who provide the most satisfying of endings.
The illustrations are in a naïve style, but definitely add humor to the story.
What I Didn't Like About the Story There is very little not to like about The Adventures of Fawn: Till the Last Snowflake Falls. I did wonder if the setting of Santa's village was at the same level of age appropriateness as the plot and readability. Will children of 10, who can read the story themselves, feel comfortable with a tale about Santa and his reindeer or will they feel that the setting is too babyish for them?
Final Say This is a delightful, charming, humorous, yet meaningful story perfect for young children to read alone or to have read to them.
From D. Donovan, editor of California Book watch and Children's Book watch, and senior book reviewer for Midwest book reviews:
'Til the Last Snowflake Falls is the first book in The Adventures of Fawn series, and provides a coming-of-age story about the daughter of Santa's legendary reindeer, Comet and Vixen.
One would anticipate a picture book production(or perhaps a chapter book) from the title and premise of the story; but a little over three hundred pages of text (accompanied by some black and white drawings) places it more in the realm of a post-elementary-level reader. Kids past the chapter book stage who still enjoy whimsical, light-hearten stories of Santa's legacy, as well as adults who look for inspirational, uplifting read sand who are not too 'old' to delve into a book featuring a younger animal protagonist, will appreciate the character of Fawn, who is determined to strikeout on her own against her parents' wishes.
Because she can't gain their permission, she begins to sneak out to do dangerous, exciting things on her own. 'Til the Last Snowflake Falls chronicles these mishaps, secrets, whitelies, and the world outside of her familiar Santa's Village home.
Fawn rebels not only against her parents'wishes, but against the structure of her protected life: "You see!Even when I try to have a little fun---I don't! My life is as boring as a melting snowball! Each and every day is exactly the same, Dad. I have no friends! I can't go anywhere---and have nothing to do. I hang around all day watching the Forgetful Twins sweeping floors and brushing down the reindeer."
The contrast between parents who want to shelter their child and a rebellious child's vision of a more interesting world and life beyond the boundaries of these restrictions are presented using clear dialogue and interactions that reinforce the perceptions of not just Fawn, but her parents and those around her.
As a host of characters influence Fawn's journey, from Snow boy/Snowman to a hungry wolf and Doctor Weather, Fawn brings magic and wonder to a world outside of her own, and young readers receive an engaging fantasy filled with animal protagonists.
Discussions of the far-reaching consequences of bridging very different worlds create an engrossing survey: "Doctor,just as Fawn entered my world one day---and changed it forever, you have entered our world today. After this, perhaps your own world won't quite ever be the same again.Will you have to make a choice between the two worlds? Or, can you live with them both?"
It's hard to easily peg the age group of this light-hearten adventure. Kids with good reading skills who can appreciate the black and white drawings peppered throughout a thought-provoking story of changes, adventures, and mature thinking will appreciate 'Til the Last Snowflake Falls, a study in contrasts, development, and the lasting consequences and impact of choices. But Fawn's underlying message of community and spirit in Christmas season and beyond can reach well beyond the children's market, as well.
The philosophical and underlying message of the story is recommended for elementary-grade readers in grades 4-5 who are past the need for color picture embellishments, but still capable of enjoying a whimsical, fun fantasy about Santa's world and small Fawn's determination to make her life more exciting and meaningful; but its real impact will prove inviting to all ages who look for more than another Santa Christmas tale.
One would anticipate a picture book production(or perhaps a chapter book) from the title and premise of the story; but a little over three hundred pages of text (accompanied by some black and white drawings) places it more in the realm of a post-elementary-level reader. Kids past the chapter book stage who still enjoy whimsical, light-hearten stories of Santa's legacy, as well as adults who look for inspirational, uplifting read sand who are not too 'old' to delve into a book featuring a younger animal protagonist, will appreciate the character of Fawn, who is determined to strikeout on her own against her parents' wishes.
Because she can't gain their permission, she begins to sneak out to do dangerous, exciting things on her own. 'Til the Last Snowflake Falls chronicles these mishaps, secrets, whitelies, and the world outside of her familiar Santa's Village home.
Fawn rebels not only against her parents'wishes, but against the structure of her protected life: "You see!Even when I try to have a little fun---I don't! My life is as boring as a melting snowball! Each and every day is exactly the same, Dad. I have no friends! I can't go anywhere---and have nothing to do. I hang around all day watching the Forgetful Twins sweeping floors and brushing down the reindeer."
The contrast between parents who want to shelter their child and a rebellious child's vision of a more interesting world and life beyond the boundaries of these restrictions are presented using clear dialogue and interactions that reinforce the perceptions of not just Fawn, but her parents and those around her.
As a host of characters influence Fawn's journey, from Snow boy/Snowman to a hungry wolf and Doctor Weather, Fawn brings magic and wonder to a world outside of her own, and young readers receive an engaging fantasy filled with animal protagonists.
Discussions of the far-reaching consequences of bridging very different worlds create an engrossing survey: "Doctor,just as Fawn entered my world one day---and changed it forever, you have entered our world today. After this, perhaps your own world won't quite ever be the same again.Will you have to make a choice between the two worlds? Or, can you live with them both?"
It's hard to easily peg the age group of this light-hearten adventure. Kids with good reading skills who can appreciate the black and white drawings peppered throughout a thought-provoking story of changes, adventures, and mature thinking will appreciate 'Til the Last Snowflake Falls, a study in contrasts, development, and the lasting consequences and impact of choices. But Fawn's underlying message of community and spirit in Christmas season and beyond can reach well beyond the children's market, as well.
The philosophical and underlying message of the story is recommended for elementary-grade readers in grades 4-5 who are past the need for color picture embellishments, but still capable of enjoying a whimsical, fun fantasy about Santa's world and small Fawn's determination to make her life more exciting and meaningful; but its real impact will prove inviting to all ages who look for more than another Santa Christmas tale.
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