Smarties, have you heard of “Gage the Flying Whippet Series?” It was written by an author that lives right here in Charlotte. We love our local authors! You may have heard of her, Darla Desiderio.
I first heard about this wonderful series on social media. I have to admit, I was captivated the cover. The sweet little dog’s face and big brown eyes. The cover art on each of these books is stunning. They say don’t judge a book by it’s cover —> well smarties, I have to say, go ahead and judge! These books are good! They are the perfect books for you to read to or with your kiddoes. They are really special. I instantly related to the character, Sammie. Darla’s stories open up a whole new world that children can relate to. School can be tough. There are so many pressures that go on that we as parents aren’t aware of. Kids need a release and at the same time they need to know they aren’t alone. The Gage series is the perfect vehicle to start those open discussions with your son/daughter.
I recommend listening to Darla’s recent podcast “Parenting with a Twist” with Francine Marie–> Click here to listen.
Synopis:
Gage and the Flying Whippet:
this book takes the juvenile reader (ages seven to ten) on a thought-provoking journey with Samantha Desarata (Sammie) a rising eighth grader with dyslexia. Faced with the reality of remedial summer-school math, Sammie feels frustrated and defeated—until she meets a magical canine friend to mentor her through life’s obstacles.
The Scrapper:
Garrett P. Murphy finds himself during the winter break of his eighth-grade year 
having to take care of himself because nobody else can. He struggles in fast-paced New Jersey and New York City to support himself and his family after the loss of what should have been an established figure in his life. With the help of an unusual canine pal he names “Scrap,” Garrett discovers his own impressive resourcefulness and creates a small repair business. He is pushed to survive, finding help from places he never could have imaged.
The Gage the Flying Whippet Coloring Zine:
Travel to imaginary places with this unique coloring 
zine, a mini coloring magazine that features the black-and-white chapter illustrations from the Gage the Flying Whippet series of books. Young readers can engage with the characters and scenes depicted in the series as they color each of the twenty-five beautiful illustrations. The zine also contains designated drawing pages, so children may sketch the content of their imaginations while reading about Gage’s special dog wisdom. Each page is framed so the finished creation can be cut out and given as a gift. Dream big dreams with this coloring zine!
Series Review:
“I originally planned to donate Gage The Flying Whippet and The Scrapper for the children to enjoy at Our Little Library, a community library in an under-served neighborhood run by the all-volunteer nonprofit Charity League. But after reading both books I was so charmed by them I decided to keep them for my own collection! I didn’t forget about the young readers – I attended a book signing at Park Road Books with author Darla Desiderio and bought signed copies to give to the library. Darla even graciously offered to come to the library sometime and meet the kids. I know they will love the inspiring books for the same reasons I do: The series is well-written and tackles real and serious issues but in a delightful and fun way.” ~ Olivia Fortson, Founder of The O Report
*Click here to purchase books.
Upcoming Author Events:
Join Darla at the South Park Mall on Saturday November 10, 2018 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. to visit with Santa and color with The Gage Series! Free coloring fun for kids of all ages featuring the Gage the Flying Whippet Coloring Zine. All Gage Series books will be available for sale! Get ready for the holiday fun!
Parents & Teachers:
Darla has a special page on her website just for you. She provides educational tools continue the conversation beyond the words in the book. *Each Gage Series tool was developed by a teacher with your child’s best interest at heart. Click here & download and enjoy them for free!
The series includes:
Book 1: Gage the Flying Whippet
Book 2: The Scrapper
Book 3: The Swan (stay tuned!)
Gage the Flying Whippet Coloring Zine
About the Author:
Darla grew up in the beautiful mountains of Bernardsville, New Jersey, surrounded by nature. She is an author of children’s fiction, and a freelance writer. Her writing is inspired by the personal stories of others. She lives with her two dogs in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Want to know more about Darla’s fictional storytelling and her author life? Check out her blog.
Get Social with Darla & the Gage The Flying Whippet Series!
Website: http://www.thegageseries.com/
Facebook: @gagetheflyingwhippet
Instagram: @thegageseries
