Reviews Magical Adventures in Michigan

Magical Adventures in Michigan offers a wealth of interesting and creative stories of Michigan sites and personalities. It presents situations and problems that children can identify with while offering wise and age-appropriate outcomes. It mixes a fascinating story with the "magic" of Michigan.

Mel Miller

Social Studies Consultant, Macomb Intermediate School District

‘Adventures’ makes learning more fun
by Bob Gross
Of The Daily Oakland Press... July, 2004

At first glance, it looks like a collection of fairy tales.

But Leigh A. Arrathoon had another purpose in mind when she wrote "Magical Adventures in Michigan."

"It prepares children for MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program), it delights them with stories and each chapter talks about a child’s problem, like teasing or bragging or bullying or stealing," says the Rochester author, who holds a doctorate in French.

"It teaches a child how to appreciate other people, and it teaches them the proper uses of money and power."

The book is a study in Michigan history, following the adventures of two children, named Katie and Kevin who live in Rochester and who visit places such as Holland, Mackinac Island and Detroit.

Yet it also is framed by accounts of an apprentice wizard named Mancini, who shares many of the same lessons Katie and Kevin experience.

Mancini really is the person who learns most about money and power, even though Kevin and Katie have their share of problems during their adventures.

"Any of those problems, when you simplify them, it’s a matter of money or power," Arrathoon says. "It all boils down to that in the end."

It may boil down to that, but the book also is being promoted as a way to prepare fourth graders to take [the] Michigan Education Assessment Program test.

"We’ve been doing Michigan history for a long time and I’m a teacher," she says. "We decided to do this when we started this particular project with this particular press."

The book builds off an earlier seven-book series of Michigan history called "Jody’s Michigan Adventures."

"We just did this book because we knew there were a lot of older children for whom those other books were too young for them," Arrathoon says.

She adds her latest book is more of a challenge.

"This book is a hard read for a fourth-grader," she says. "From 8 to 12, that would be the age group it would be appropriate for."

Teachers and students appreciate the approach of a story, rather than a dry textbook account she says.

"Teachers have begun to buy it, and some of them are going to read it aloud," she says.

"It really does cover almost everything there is on that test."

It’s a new book, but the idea is an old one.

"This isn’t really a new approach," Arrathoon says. "It’s a very popular way to teach Kids [to] remember it and enjoy it."

Metro Parent Magazine... April 2004

Magical Adventures in Michigan by Leigh Arrathoon (Paint Creek Press, $29.95) is a
coming-of-age tale with a magical twist. Mancini, the central character, is a
wizard-in-training with a long way to go. Before Mancini can realize his goal, he must
learn lessons of honesty, charity and acceptance from his Uncle Giovanni, a practicing
wizard. Aspects of Michigan history and Native American culture, specifically the
traditions and history of the Ojibwa tribe, are interwoven throughout. Ages 8 and up.

The Buzz Bee Informed: Book Shelf Buys

Michigan Historical Review…. November 2003

Leigh A. Arrathoon. Magical Adventures in Michigan. Rochester, Mich.: Paint Creek Press, 2003. Pp. 360. Illustrations. Cloth, $29.95.

In Magical Adventures in Michigan, Leigh A. Arrathoon has again waved her pen and created another wonderful adventure series set in Michigan. Through the wizard apprentice Mancini, Arrathoon celebrates Native-American culture while weaving together the Michigan vacation adventures of the Murphy family. Readers ride along with Katie, Kevin, their parents, and the magical mouse, Jody, as they visit such beloved Michigan landmarks as Holland, Greenfield Village, the Upper Peninsula, Frankenmuth, and more. Between each adventure readers, as if gazing in a magic globe, watch Mancini grow from an apprentice to the wizard "Mancini the Magnificent." During the process he learns important lessons necessary for becoming a good wizard and citizen.

Readers will find two hidden gems tucked between the Michigan vacations of the Murphy family. The story of Mancini is a typical tale of a young adolescent discovering his independence and identity while chasing the American call of meterialism. While on his idealistic quest to become the best wizard ever, Mancini is tripped up by his desire for money. Through each adventures he gains another facet of wisdow that illuminates the quest for power and prestige that motivates his pursuit of wealth. Eventually, he learns that power and prestige are better attained through developing one’s talents and assisting others.The second gem, displayed within and between adventures, is the subtle presentation of Ojibwa culture. Almost without realizing it, readers become acquainted with Ojibwa language and traditions such as the legend of the corn.

Teachers and parents will find Magical Adventures in Michigan a good teaching tool. Each adventure contains references to michigan’s history, geography, economy, and government. Embedded within are tales and information about aspects of Native-American culture, including the legend of Sleeping Bear, the medicine man, and challenges faced by Native Americans.

Mancini, Katie, Kevin, Jody, and their friends provide opportunities for discussions about diversity, acceptance, selflessness, honesty, and other timely character traits. Readers will probably see themselves in at least one of the characters, whether it be the precocious Katie, the studious Kevin, the ambitious Mancini, the compliant Jody, or one of the variety of friends introduced throughout these adventures.

Renay M. Scott, Ph.D.

Associate Chair of Teacher Education,

Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859

Michigan Library Association... February 2004

Arrathoon, L.A. (2003) Magical Adventures in Michigan. Rochester, MI. Paint Creek Press, Ltd. 349p. Illustrations, $29.95. [ISBN 1-893047-10-5]

Leigh Arrathoon’s recent publication, Magical Adventures in Michigan is a collection of short stories working Michigan history and cultural events within a framework of everyday problems and concerns faced by children. The book is illustrated by Lori Taylor.

The strong point of this book is the stories that follow the adventures of the Murphy family. As an adult, Katie’s brother Kevin is writing about their childhood and the family’s adventures in Michigan. Katie insists that Kevin add a story line about the Wizard of Paint Creek and Jody so that readers would understand how and why Katie came into possession of this toy. The stories Kevin writes about are twofold. First, they reflect key points of Michigan history and culture. Nine areas of Michigan are identified, with emphasis on some historical aspect of each area. For example, the chapter on Holland, Michigan focuses on the family’s trip to the annual Tulip Festival and the city’s Dutch heritage. Other stories focus on Mackinac Island, Frankenmuth, the Northwest, the Upper Peninsula, Detroit, The Henry Ford (formerly, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village), Lansing, and the Northeast. Secondly, within these historical and cultural settings are situations involving Kevin and Katie that focus on common problems and dilemmas of children. These stories involve issues such as friendship, unemployment, theft, and bullying with possible solutions to problems included.

In addition to these stories and Giovanni’s wise guidance of Katie throughout, the apprentice Mancini is guided not only by his uncle, but also by Priscilla, a memsegewesiwug, an Ojibwa fairy. Priscilla shows Mancini different aspects of Ojibwa culture, treatment of Native Americans in the past and present, and difficulties that continue in the 21st century for many Native Americans.

The historical stories contained in Magical Adventures in Michigan are well written and likely to captivate children. The author has clearly done much research of Michigan history and Native American culture. The history presented appears to be factually accurate and are presented in way that children would enjoy and understand. The inclusion of the oft-neglected aspects of Ojibwa history and culture are also a strong point of the book. By presenting history in a fictional setting, the author makes this subject more accessible to young readers. A wonderful addition is the inclusion of words that may be unfamiliar to many young readers (and in the case of Ojibwa vocabulary, words that are unfamiliar to many adults, too!) along with their definitions within the text. The words are again included in an index at the end of the book for easy reference.

The publisher’s website recommends Magical Adventures in Michigan "for good readers, ages 8-12." Although the size of the book may be a bit cumbersome for regular use, with it having 349 pages, it is worthy of consideration as a supplement to a classroom study of Michigan history, or to enhance a collection of works by Michigan authors.

Beth Johns

Library and Information Science Program

Wayne State University

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