Released on: September 19, 2007, 7:44 pm

Press Release Author: Magical Child Books

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: Books Make Diversity of Pagan Culture Accessible to
Schoolchildren


Press Release Body: For Release: On Receipt
Contact: Faith Axel, 314-740-0361, publicity@handcraftedpagan.com

Harry Potter is Fictional...But There Could be a Witch Family Next Door:

Books Make Diversity of Pagan Culture Accessible to Schoolchildren


CRYSTAL CITY, MO: Teaching diversity is hard enough when the students have some
familiarity with the cultures: Islam or Judaism, for instance. But what resources
are available for teaching about Paganism or Wicca (sometimes referred to as
witchcraft)? And can one girl\'s experience of being different as a Pagan apply
universally to studying other kinds of difference?

While Harry Potter made the idea of magic a common dinner-table topic, the J.K.
Rowling version of witchcraft has essentially nothing in common with modern
Paganism: a religion based on teachings stretching back thousands of years,
venerating nature and incorporating polytheism. Yet, many American students live
next door to practicing Pagan families, whether they know it or not. And many Pagan
children feel very isolated in classrooms dominated by Christians; they may not even
know any other Pagans at their school.

Magical Child Books steps into the breach with two illustrated children\'s books for
2008, both written and illustrated by W. Lyon Martin, a much-published/exhibited
artist and also a Pagan parent (see bio at
http://www.handcraftedpagan.com/magicalchild/bio.html).

An Ordinary Girl, a Magical Child (ISBN 9780979683435) follows one Pagan elementary
school child through the cycle of the year: celebrating the eight important holidays
(Sabbats), blessing a home, rejoicing in the full moon...and learning how to conquer
schoolmate teasing about her different traditions and banish bad dreams through
ritual.

Aidan\'s First Full Moon Circle (ISBN 9780979683442) walks a Pagan boy through the
excitement of one ritual, and the discovery that he has been chosen to play a very
important part in the night\'s events.

Martin\'s intricate and elegant artwork and her clear descriptions of Pagan practices
have created books to be enjoyed for their stories and art, and also harnessed as
teaching tools.

\"A sound introduction for young readers to neo-Pagan beliefs.\"

--Sue Bradford Edwards, children\'s book reviewer, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

(Please see all reviews at
http://www.handcraftedpagan.com/magicalchild/review_praise.html)

Journalists: Lyon is available for interviews; review copies are available to
qualified reviewers.

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Web Site: http://handcraftedpagan.com

Contact Details: Magical Child Books
Faith Axel
Tenth Street, Crystal City, MO 63019
314-740-0361
publicity@handcraftedpagan.com