A true pony tale
“Star’s Island” bringing attention to Newfoundland breed
Maggie O’brien’s book “Star’s Island” will be relaunching with new illustrations by Veselina Tomova and sketches by Cliff George on Thursday.
The idea for “Star’s Island” came from three ponies in O’brien’s life.
“When I was a young person, I ‘borrowed’ a pony from my neighbour,” O’brien explains.
That pony, White Knight, knew his way home, and as a young girl in Ireland, O’brien would take the pony to go to different places, and it would always take her back home at the end of the day, something she loved.
When O’brien came to Newfoundland as a “Morning Show” producer for CBC Radio, she met Cliff George, who had a Newfoundland pony that looked like White Knight, with a broad chest and furry ears.
Then at a dinner party, a woman was describing her pony, Star, and the tale of a young pony who goes on an adventure to Big Island, only to realize he belongs back home began to take shape.
O’brien had loved Tomova’s work for her other children’s book, “Maggie and Hero.” With the relaunch of “Star’s Island,” they decided to use softer, watercolour illustrations with brighter colours O’brien had noticed children gravitating towards when reading her books
in schools.
The new edition of “Star’s Island” will include an insert by George for children to colour.
O’brien felt it was important to include George’s sketches in the book because of their detail, and the important role he has played in having the Newfoundland
pony recognized as an endangered species.
Jan Peters of Fineday Books, the publisher of “Star’s Island,” feels the book can serve an important role in raising awareness and appreciation for Newfoundland ponies, as well as addressing the connection
Newfoundlanders feel to their home when they go to other parts of the country or world.
“A way to promote a breed is to get children excited about them,” says Peters.
She hopes that by raising more awareness about the ponies, they will become more important to people in Newfoundland.
“When I see small children suffering, that opens my heart,” says Peters about the decision to partner with the Children’s Wish Foundation for the relaunch. Proceeds from the event will be going to the Children’s Wish Foundation.
Peters says the power of the mind and the imagination are important in helping to better the situation of children facing terminal illness.
“It just all kind of made sense to us that this would be a good relationship,” says Edie Newton, director of the Children’s Wish Foundation for Newfoundland and Labrador.
There were happy to partner with the relaunch of a children’s book about a Newfoundland pony. If the projections for the relaunch are accurate, they expect to be able to grant a wish with the proceeds from “Star’s Island.”
Staff from the Children’s Wish Foundation, and Wish Families will be present at the relaunch. The Children’s Wish Foundation is also involved in the co-ordination of the coming book tour.
The relaunch of “Star’s Island” will be at Christina Parker Art Gallery, 50 Water St., St. John’s on Thursday from 7–9 p.m.
Maggie O’brien, Cliff George and Jan Peters will be in attendance.