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“Where’s the Beach?”

by D. Richards – Review by Todd Rutherford

This book is D. Richards’ second book, written and illustrated by her. What a delightful follow-up to her first book, When Zeke, (the zebra) hits the slopes. This book once again features her artistic talent seen on every page, with a fun adventure from our beloved zebra, Zeke.

D. Richards is a graduate from California State Summer School for the Arts and the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. She has taken her love of art and illustration to a new children’s book about Zeke, the zebra. Zeke encounters adventures and mishaps, but pushes through to achieve his goals.

Zeke, the zebra, is out for a new adventure. The snow is gone and he wants to try the beach. As we now know, Zeke puts his heart and soul into whatever he undertakes. He takes just a moment to pack, then heads out on his bike for the beach. He soon runs across a sale in town and purchases a surfboard and a map, loads his bike, and off he goes. It’s not long before he discovers that the map has flown off and that he is lost. Finding a spot in the warm sunshine, he stops for a moment to think about what has happened, only to discover that some ants were having a bite to eat. He jumped onto his bike, and still not ready to quit, found a sign that returned him on his way to the beach. Zeke enjoyed his day at the beach, and stayed cool in the water. He was a success just as he had planned, and went on his way back home.

Children will love Where’s the Beach? They will be delighted with the fun, detailed illustrations, as they learn while reading this exciting adventure. They will discover that sometimes things don’t go the way they are planned—so keep it together and try, try and try again. And where there is a will, there is always a way.

D. Richards has brought to us a fun-loving book that parents and children will both enjoy. Zeke, the zebra, is a delightful character that loves adventure and teaches us to love life and to expect an adventure around every corner.

“When Zeke hit the slopes”

by D. Richards – Review by Todd Rutherford

D. Richards is a talented author and illustrator. She created and fell in love with this funny character Zeke (the zebra) while she was still in High School. This book recounts the adventures of a very loveable zebra named Zeke who is determined to accomplish the skills of the slopes.

Ms. Richards decided to write a book using her beloved Zeke one night after reading her son a book. She absolutely nailed it with this book. Her illustrations of this fun loving zebra, Zeke, are both bright and colorful, and visually expressive.

Zeke sets out on an adventure with the determination to succeed. He heads out full speed ahead. He finds out all too quickly that the sport of skiing is full of challenges, not to mention a crash of himself, his equipment and pride. Zeke is soon ready to try another sport on the snow; he is not a quitter. He once again heads out only to discover that speed is not his friend, and that children can behave badly at times. Zeke has a try, try again spirit. He gives this snow sporting one more try; he tries a snowboard. To the top he goes and wouldn’t you know; Zeke is able to conquer this mountain of snow after all.

This book will delight children with its wonderful illustrations of this loveable character, Zeke, the zebra. D. Richards has done a superb job, writing a book that is fun to read with loads of laughs. It also teaches children that sometimes they may not succeed at something the first time. What’s needed is the determination to try again. We should hold our heads high and feel the triumph over defeat.

D. Richards has created a book that will have children wanting to read it over and over. The lessons presented are ones that all parents desire to teach their children, and the love for Zeke the zebra is felt by both parents and children alike.

Created and manufactured in the U.S.A.!