A Friend in Need

Author Narrates Jungle Journey of Friendship and Courage in New Book
"A childhood lesson in friendship is much needed in order to develop a young person's understanding of not only themselves," says Erin Kathleen MacKenzie, "but of the differences between them and others as well." In her new children's book, "The Toucan, The Tiger, & The Elephant: How the tiger got his meal" (published by AuthorHouse - http://www.authorhouse.com), MacKenzie explores the ancient jungle of imagination, in all its mysticism and beauty, speaking of the essence of friendship and courage along the way.

Surrounded by massive trees, wild vegetation, and a waterfall hissing in the distance, the tiger wakes with a hungry grumble in his stomach. His friends the elephant and toucan agree to help. At first the elephant pulls down a branch full of leaves, which the tiger dismisses immediately, saying that tigers don't eat plants. Then the toucan brings tiny bugs, which the tiger again dismisses, repeating that tigers don't eat bugs. Resolved to help their friend, they all agree to confront the foul creature who has recently taken up residence in the Great Pond, and in doing so, procure some meat for the tiger.

Every page has been beautifully hand-illustrated, depicting magical characters and lush scenery that can only be recalled in the imagination. "In this story, you shall be transported to a wonderful and exciting world filled with intrigue, strategy and danger," MacKenzie says. "In the end, new and exciting things will be discovered, and a supernatural phenomenon will occur."

Geared toward children, "The Toucan, The Tiger, & The Elephant: How the tiger got his meal" transports its readers to the rich and wild jungle landscape of the mind and heart with all the elements of a bedtime story that is bound to become a classic.

MacKenzie was born in southern California and spent most of her childhood years in Cottage Grove, Ore. Her love of animals and the country life comes from helping her father raise and care for horses. For years, she worked fighting forest fires on the West Coast and eventually became a hazardous materials clean-up specialist for First Strike Environmental. Seeking a change of climate and new adventures, MacKenzie moved to Florida in the late 1990s, where she met her husband, Scott Yanaros. When MacKenzie is not mothering or writing, she indulges her passion for tropical plants and flowers such as the ones illustrated in her premier book. She is currently working on a new story, "Mendenhall Mysteries," which she plans to present as a series of books in hopes of helping children discover the joy of Christ's presence in their own lives. For more information, please visit http://www.toucantails.com.