Animal Adventure

Katherine has written two charming animal adventure stories for you to share with your favorite children.

Born to Dance

Dylan de Polka, a handsome chestnut dray-horse, pulls a milk cart for his keep, but all the while his head is full of tap-dancing dreams. A catchy tune is all it takes to set his hooves tapping, and to set the stage for disaster. Dylan’s on-the-job dancing day-dreams lead to him being sold and he falls into the clutches of Dangerous Dennis, a ruthless horse dealer.

Enter Red Tabby, the worldly wise ginger cat, who risks her nine lines to rescue her friend from his terrible fate. With Dangerous Dennis and his sidekick, Clumsy Golightly, hot on their trail, the two friends are forced to leave behind their familiar world and find a new life. When they stumble upon the Happy Days Circus, it seems the perfect refuge. But all is far from happy with the circus animals who, that very day, have woken to find themselves abandoned. Now, to save themselves Dylan and Red Tabby must somehow save the circus.

Dylan and Red Tabby are joined in their adventure by a colourful cast of characters: Irma the Elephant, Ranga Orang-utan, the Meerkat Clowns, Marmaduke Monkey, Ringmaster Chia, Madame Lulu Bombazine, Lord Stomper, and many more.

Reviews:

Parent Talk: ‘Born to Dance’ brings a welcome burst of sunshine to the world of children’s fiction.

NagMag: Want to keep the children enthralled with a magical tale of a horse and its friends, then look no further. A tap-dancing dray horse, Dylan de Polka, and his close companion, Red Tabby, steal the scene with their fight for freedom. I honestly loved this book and believe that any 8–12-year-old or grandparent will not be able to put this award winning book down. Linda Warburton, Editor

London Book Festival (critique): Born to Dance is a delightful and well-structured children's adventure that captures the magic of the circus and the thrill of being out on your own in the world. Katherine Reynolds' strong voice and skilled plotting was honed in years of professional endeavours in television, film and journalism. Unlike many writers, her work does not bog down in the third act, and the ingenious twists offered in her tale are sure to satisfy its intended young readership.

Letter to the Author: Dear Dylan and Red Tabby I’ve just finished reading about your adventures. And I think they are amazing. It’s the longest and best book I’ve ever read in my life. Natalie (age 12)

Amazon Online Review: Absolutely wonderful! Step into the world of Dylan and Red Tabby as their great adventure unfolds and hardship turns to triumph. Superbly written and beautifully presented. A must for young readers. Gavin P. Mann

A latter-day Black Beauty, Born to Dance brings a welcome burst of sunshine to the world of Children's fiction. PARENT TALK

"Reynolds delivers a masterpiece with 'Born to Dance', a Children’s book that is about much more than talking and performing animals. It is about love, hard work, friendship, and above all, hope. Hope is a simple concept. Just one word. But 'Born to Dance' takes the word “hope” to the next level. 'Born to Dance' will leave readers excited for more.” LITERARY MAGIC MAGAZINE

2009 Winner Children's Fiction: San Francisco Book Festival 2008 Winner Children's Fiction: David St. John Thomas Trust Three honourable mentions.

by Katherine Reynolds

Dylan de Polka, the tap-dancing star of the Happy Days Circus, and his worldly-wise friend, Red Tabby, take on a pair of ruthless criminals who steal Lord Stomper's home, Great Park and place the whole circus troupe in peril. Before their home and their hopes are completely destroyed, Dylan and Red Tabby must somehow outwit the enemy. Can they succeed in rescuing the missing Lord Stomper, saving Great Park and reuniting the Happy Days Circus? Can they ever be safe for life?

Awards:

Safe for Life has won a 'Highly Commended' from the San Francisco Book Festival, 2010.

Reviews of book:

2010 Winner Safe for Life - 1st Prize - London Book Festival - Jan 2010

Safe for Life Primary Times Magazine review, Issue 152. “Animals on top in a world of villains ‘Safe for Life’ is the sequel to ‘Born to Dance’ which celebrated the friendship between a cat and a horse in a circus. Now the animals are in danger again as the rotter Jago Reaver attempts to take control of their home. Written with clear prose and a gentle narrative that always keeps the pages turning, Reynolds’ book keeps the reader guessing to the end.”

About the author of these delightful animal adventure books.

The written word has always been Katherine's first love but a talent for film making took her about the world. She later settled in Canada where she married and worked as a film-maker and journalist. Then her daughter began raising a family in the West of England at which point Katherine and her actor husband followed her. The green and rolling hills of Somerset soon worked their magic on Katherine's imagination and the Dylan and Red Tabby adventures were born.