The Secret of the Magic Crystal

With its underlying and positive message of friendship, imagination and transformation, "The Secret of the Magic Crystal" is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for young readers.

Susan Bethany's Bookshelf, http: //www.midwestbookreview.com

The Secret of the Magic Crystal is a book about friendship, imagination, and transformation. A somewhat selfish child, named Alana, finds an amazing, glowing crystal in the forest behind her house. That night she has a dream that she is a beautiful fairy.

Alana is reluctant to share her magical crystal, but also desperately wants the attention that comes when someone is envious of you, so she shows it to her two best friends, Mae and Samara. They beg her to let them have it for a night, and she finally agrees. Mae takes the crystal home and has her own dream where she is a powerful sorceress. Next, Samara takes the crystal and dreams that she is a mermaid deep in a watery cave filled with treasure. Samara is enchanted by the glitter but the crystal shines a light towards the back of the cave where she sees an old octopus and he shows her a box with a riddle inside. The riddle tells of a mysterious light the octopus will guide them to. When she awakes, she knows that there was something special about the dream and that they must try and find a way to get back to the cave and continue on the journey that has been set before them.

Meanwhile, back in the forest a group of city children, who are the victims of a bossy character named Kyron, have come to play. They glimpse an eerie light dash by them and they follow it only to barge in on the dreamy world of Alana, Mae, and Samara. Alana's fanciful dream fades away as if it had never existed in the first place.

Only after Alana decides to open her heart and invite the group of city children into the world of the secret crystal does the magic truly begin But how can all of the children share one crystal happily? They decide to seek the assistance of the old octopus from the cave, who offers them a final riddle, and an amazing out-of-this-world adventure

Mishea Obiji is an author, teacher, and artist. The Secret of the Magic Crystal was inspired by her love of art and creativity, married with her passion for communicating with children through a language they can understand, storytelling. Mishea has been teaching young children for more than 15 years and enjoys reading to them and playing on their level, and teaching them things that are integral to making the world a better, more loving place.

Mishea has always loved art and creation of all kinds including drawing, painting, sculpture and fibers. She is passionate about drawing fantasy characters, and decided to try her hand at authoring her first children's book, The Secret of the Magic Crystal.

Mishea was born in the country just outside of Lawrence Ks. where she spent her days exploring and day dreaming and trying to capture her fantasies in her drawings. Her Parents always encouraged her and gave her the resources to explore and practice. She continued with her art education and took art classes in college, but felt too confined and wanted to experience the art world in her own way.

Mishea is married with one child, who she loves reliving her childhood through. Her husband is an entrepreneur and helps her understand the business side of marketing. She is grateful for a very supportive and creative circle of friends and family, and a wonderful publisher. She enjoyed the process immensely, and plans to continue to write and illustrate many more children's books.

You can reach Mishea at: www.misheaobiji.com