An Ordinary Girl, a Magical Child [Paperback]

W. Lyon Martin (Author)

Book Description

Take a joyful romp with Rabbit around the Wheel of the Year as she learns about herself and her Pagan Ways in the first fully-illustrated Pagan children's book to explore Pagan ethics, customs, and holidays from a child's point of view.

Lavishly illustrated with original watercolors, the book is designed for school-aged children, whether they are being raised Pagan or are curious about a Pagan friend's religious path. This book explains in a clear and gentle voice just what a Pagan is, what a Pagan believes, and how a Pagan celebrates through the year.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...an excellent child's eye into the lives of Pagan families." --Christiba Aubin, The Witch's Voice

"Lyon has a wonderful way with colors..." --Ashleen O'Gaea, Raising Witches

About the Author

W. Lyon Martin is an eclectic Pagan living in Eastern Missouri. She has written articles for Pagan publications both on-line and in print including PagaNet News, The Seeker Journal, NewWitch, Crescent Magazine, Elements Magazine, The Witch’s Voice, and The Pagan-Wiccan Times.

She has been a working artist since 1981, exhibiting her watercolor paintings in art shows internationally. Her fine art paintings grace both public and private collections while her illustration work has been featured in assorted publications, from books and magazines to corporate collateral materials and advertisements.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Pagan World Press (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594055157
• ISBN-13: 978-1594055157
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A transplanted New Yorker now living in Missouri, W. Lyon Martin has been working as an illustrator for 25+ years.

Lyon's love affair with art and illustration began at an early age. One of her earliest memories is of sitting with a pile of crayons and papers strewn around her proclaiming to her parents that someday everyone in the world would be looking at her art. In spite of her parents' attempts to steer her toward a more practical choice, she never wanted to do anything else.

So, Lyon followed her heart and earned a degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, then continued her art education at the School of Visual Arts, earning a B.F.A. in Graphic Design. These disciplines can still be seen in her work in her strong lines and detailed patterns.

Her career began in advertising and graphic design in New York, where she was often called upon to create spot art for a variety of clients, which included Fortune 500 companies such as Kraft, General Electric and Sears. After her move to Missouri in 2000, she turned her focus to her true love, children's books. An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child, a children's book she both wrote and illustrated was released in 2005. When the original publisher folded, An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child was picked up by a new house, edited and re-released in 2008, then went on to become a finalist in the 2009 international COVR awards. Four additional picture books and a coloring book quickly followed.

Lyon can still be found sitting around her studio with papers strewn around her creating stories and illustrations for children. She has since traded in her crayons for watercolor, pen and ink, and a computer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Christian opinion--, May 4, 2006

By 

B. A. Haeberle (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Ordinary Girl, a Magical Child (Paperback)

I'm a Christian who believes we all benefit from trying to understand other religions. This book is a wonderful introduction to a world a lot of us know nothing about. I wish it could be in every church library. Knowledge tends to dispel fear--so important in the world today! I wish the author would do a series on other world religions, in the same gentle and lovely spirit.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable and informative!, March 13, 2006

By 

K. Blake (Flagstaff, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Ordinary Girl, a Magical Child (Paperback)

Finally, a book made for children on being pagan. I found this book absolutely delightful! It was written perfectly for a child's perspective. I look forward to beginning reading this book with my own son and the conversations it will inspire. Wonderful!!!!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Child is a magical book!, September 29, 2005

By 

Trish Reynolds "Author of The Doctor and the ... - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Ordinary Girl, a Magical Child (Paperback)

An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child is the best neo-Pagan children's book I have seen to date. Period.
It delineates the rituals of the most widely celebrated neo-Pagan sabbats in easy to understand language and breaks down the practices of a typical modern day Pagan family with delightful simplicity. Martin's water colours capture Rabbit's world in breathtaking detail that is certain to engage the imagination of any child.
Does it cover every tradition and every ritual and every pantheon? Of course not. It doesn't need to nor does it pretend to. An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child covers the Wheel of the Year from a child's perspective as celebrated by Rabbit and her extended family. While it is non-threatening it opens the door to dialogue both within the Pagan community as well as the greater community beyond...and that can only be a good thing.