In Sweet Magnolia , young Denise leaves her mother and sisters in the city and travels by train to visit her grandmother, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator living in Louisiana. Grandma is eager to share her vast knowledge of the bayou, with its unique animals, lifestyle, and music. Denise encounters many wild creatures, including an owl, a fox, and a young bobcat. She even helps rescue an injured bird and learns an important lesson about the need for wild animals to be free.
Wild animals belong in the wild.
The author is an avid bird watcher, and a painted bunting plays a significant role in her book. She enjoys sharing her interest in birds. People tell me, 'I used to see a bird. Passion is what writing is all about. The beautiful full-color illustrations in Sweet Magnolia bring the bayou, with its many creatures and plants, alive.