NEW YORK, March 13, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- When a young centipede runs away to join the circus, the adventure makes him realize the true value of being unique in Betsy Ramsay's new children's book, Cecil Centipede's CAREER (now available through AuthorHouse).
Ramsay's engaging rhymes are complemented by Therese Christman's vivid full-color illustrations and the combination immediately draws young readers into this entertaining and educational story. As Cecil sits counting his legs one day, he is confused to discover he has 101 of them. Embarrassed about his abnormality, Cecil decides to run away and join the circus against his mother's wishes:
His mother just smiled. In her mind she could see/ How useful an additional leg could be./ But as for the circus, her answer was "No!"/ She would never let Cecil go off with the show!
Although he is quickly accepted among his new "family" at the circus, misfortune soon comes from out of the blue and puts a premature end to the troupe's performances. In the end, Cecil discovers that his brush with tragedy is really a stroke of good luck.
"Good, wholesome family values are what come through in the conclusion of the book," Ramsay explains. "I believe young readers can identify with Cecil. At the age of 4 or 5, children are learning to count and work with numbers and many are also feeling the uncertainties of peer pressures due to circumstances that make them 'different.' These are points of common interest."
A fun, colorful and instructive read for children, Cecil Centipede's CAREER delights children as it teaches them important life lessons.
Ramsay is an American-born journalist and teacher who resided with her family in Sweden for 30 years before moving to Israel and becoming a citizen of that nation in 1987. She has taught English to sixth-graders in Jerusalem and has tutored children of all ages. In addition, Ramsay is the author of six books that include collections of her own poetry and historical novels for children. Cecil Centipede's CAREER is her first attempt at producing a picture book in rhymed verse for beginning readers. She is the mother of three and a grandmother of three.
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