Milo the Legend

Hardcover with dust jacket

Children's, YA and adult level book

Large format • 168 Pages

50 full-color full-page illustrations

Author: David Waldbillig, Esko, Minn.

Artist: Charity Aili Ruotsala, Ironwood, Mich.

$24.95

website: http://www.savpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milothelegend/

Gentle, warm, cheerful, and friendly are four words that immediately come to mind upon reading this beautifully illustrated, 168-page, large format, hardcover book. Milo is a magical horse with equally magical friends and companions of all varieties, from amphibians to humans. He travels all over the world, with his friends, learning and practicing values along the way. Charming mini-life lessons are unobtrusively tucked in along with his journeys.

Milo travels the dimensions spreading brotherhood and subtly teaching valuable lessons. He meets new friends and learns from each of them. With the guidance of his fairies, the Holy Cow and the Top Being, Milo and his friends Raven and Vulture, learn and teach and even go to the beach! Being a magical horse, Milo can run like the wind. However, that is secondary to his ability to change the world by gently teaching The Virtues to every creature he meets, wherever he goes. His strong sense of justice and kindness to others stands out in contrast to the all too common bullying many children experience.

The book is organized into short chapters, just right for reading aloud to an eager audience. Perfect for bedtime or for couch time with children studying the intricate pictures as an adult reads aloud. The prose lends itself to interaction with children artfully using word repetition in strategic places. As Frog says, Milo and his friends are, the best of the best of the best. In Frog's own words, that is "Right, right, right!" Children will love the repetition. I could visualize smiling faces giggling as they imitate frog, "hop-hop-hop!" Young Adult (YA) imaginations will be inspired not only by the yarns Author Waldbillig spins, but, if they're even remotely artistic, the 50 full color paintings by artist Charity Aili Ruotsala will stimulate their own drawings.

Besides being a charming book for children and YAs,, it is just plain fun to read as an adult. Waldbillig has a way of reaching all three audiences effectively, a rare talent. I finished it with a smile on my face. Spoiler alert: there is no sad, Black Beauty type ending here, thank goodness! Milo makes everyone better, including those participating in his story.

Review by Connie Jacobson