New Children’s Book Combines Entertaining Story with Important Lessons

Avelea Nixon Debuts with “OwlCat”

In her whimsical new children’s book, “OwlCat” (published by AuthorHouse), Avelea Nixon uses delightful animal characters to convey important lessons about acceptance, racial issues, balance in nature and finding happiness after a tragedy.

“OwlCat” tells the story of OwlCat, an orphaned cat who has been raised by owls and ventures out to find his long-lost sister in the mountains. Along the way, he meets many interesting animals and gets to experience the lush countryside. Nixon writes:

Later, OwlCat came to a large field of wheat. All he could see was the swaying Wild Emmer tops being fanned by the light breeze. The wheat had grown so high that it hid OwlCat completely. But he wasn’t alone. “Halt. HOO goes there?” OwlCat heard an unexpected voice calling out from the field and turned to see a handsome, tawny-coloured stallion standing before him. OwlCat told the stallion about the village of cats where his long-lost sister lived. Had the stallion heard of it? “Just over that mountain. That’s why the call them the CATSKILLS, silly cat,” the arrogant stallion replied. “Off with you then,” snorted the stallion as he chomped away on some wheat. “You’re being too noisy and I’m not supposed to be in here.” Excited, OwlCat left at once, running up the mountain to catch a bird’s eye view of his long-lost sister’s village.
Nixon seeks to teach children some important life lessons with her simple tale. When OwlCat meets animals that could eat him, or smaller moles that he could eat, the balance of the animal kingdom is highlighted. When he arrives to the village of cats, he finds animals of many colors — or races, as Nixon points out — living together in harmony, and when OwlCat and his sister decide to share each other’s adoptive families, they illustrate the importance of finding happiness despite the tragedy of being apart for so many years.

The artwork in “OwlCat” was done by Nixon’s 12-year-old niece, Jaimi, and young readers and listeners are sure to delight in the colorful illustrations. By combining important lessons with a tale of adventure and happy endings, “OwlCat” appeals to parents, teachers and children alike.

Avelea Nixon was born and raised in Woodstock, Ontario. “OwlCat” is her first published book, with more adventures to come. She is also working on a book of short stories, “Crime.”