COVER REVEAL/THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY with Kathleen M. Blasi for Milo's Moonlight Mission

 

By Kathleen M. Blasi 

The inspiration for this story was born of a very special night of my own. Hearing of a spectacular Leonid Meteor Storm, we set our alarm for 4 AM, bundled up, and trudged outside, with lawn chairs and blankets in hand. We waited. We watched. The meteorological predictions did not disappoint. I’d never seen anything like it. The next morning, I wrote down my impressions. And then a story began to take shape. In the early stages, it was centered on the magnificence of the meteor storm itself, but I knew to be a story in the true sense, it had to be about something even bigger. I realized that as much as I loved witnessing the storm, those with whom I shared that moment and the time spent together, were equally important. Nature connected us that night, in a quiet, meaningful way. For the four of us, individually, it remains one of our favorite life moments.

Full Synopsis:

Outer space is out there for exploring, and Captain Milo is ready for takeoff! If only he didn’t have to wait for his Second-in-Command—or as he also calls her, Mom—to report for duty. Yet Mom’s list of daily tasks grows ever longer, and she can’t launch until they’re done. So, like any good captain, Milo offers to help!

Work? Check.
Dinner? Check.
Cleanup? Check.

When the weather forecast predicts a middle-of-the-night meteor storm, Captain Milo wants desperately to witness it. But will his Second-in-Command have enough time to accomplish this magical mission with him?
In lyrical prose and charming illustrations, Kathleen M. Blasi and Petronela Dostalova capture how the most spectacular night skies are revealed when we plan for the perfect moment—with loved ones by our sides. This heartwarming tale is perfect for space fans and young budding astronauts!

Some information about the book:

Pre-order Milo's Midnight Mission Here: https://amzn.to/3aiL4ci [#Ad] 

Format: Jacketed Hardcover
Pages: 36
Size: 9.56 X 9.56
Price: $15.99
Age Range: 4-8 years
Publication Date: 06/15/2021
ISBN: 978-1-953458-04-9

Author Bio:

Kathleen Blasi writes books for young readers, including Hosea Plays On (illustrated by Shane W. Evans), A Name of Honor, and Are Organized Sports Better for Kids than Pickup Games?
Active in the children’s writing community, Kathleen has served as Co-President of Rochester Area Children’s Writers & Illustrators and is former Co-Director of the Rochester Children’s Book Festival, for which she and her Co-Director received the 2015 New York State Reading Association Literacy Advocate Award. Kathleen lives in western New York, where, along with writing, she enjoys fostering the curiosity of young storytellers.
Visit her at kmblasi.com to learn more.

Illustrator Bio:

Petronela Dostalova graduated from the Cambridge School of Art with a MA in Children’s Book Illustration. Before the MA she was studying Fine Arts at the University of East Anglia. In 2015 her children’s book project “The Reds and Greens” was highly commended for the Creative Conscience Award. The project was promoting equality. Petronela comes from a Czech-Slovak-Hungarian background but decided to nest into the heart of Suffolk where she currently lives and works with her partner and their dog Haribo. If you don’t find her drawing at her desk, she will be out travelling or cycling somewhere. She likes to be near, in, on or underwater at any time of the day except when she is drawing – she is still working on a way to be able to do these things at the same time.