Sonoma author releases children’s book, song

Christine Hourscht wrote and illustrated the book, planned as a three-part series,|

Sonoma Valley High School graduate Christine Hourscht has recently published the first in a planned series of three children’s books.

She describes “The Adventures of Magnus the Dragonfly” as a fresh new story for children who love learning through adventure.

When Magnus receives a special gift on his birthday, he is off to explore the beauties of life and nature.

Hourscht both wrote the book and painted the book’s illustrations. She even wrote a song to sing along with Magnus.

“A dragonfly flew in front of me and a song was born,” she said. “The song came first and the stories followed.”

You can hear the song on her website at christinerenee.squarespace.com.

The characters in the book are named for her nieces and nephews, and Magnus after her uncle.

Hourscht lives in Sonoma and she attended St. Francis and graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 1987. She studied art at Santa Rosa Junior College and the Academy of Art in San Francisco. She has had art shows at the Nash-Patten Garden, Roche Winery, Bay Club StoneTree and at the Sonoma Valley Vintage Festival.

In her spare time, she launched a greeting card company called Gold Heart Cards and she is also a store manager at Simplicity by I-Elle on the Plaza.

“The Adventures of Magnus the Dragonfly” is for sale at the Train Town gift shop, Copperfield’s Bookstore Petaluma and Healdsburg, Lemondrops Children’s Boutique in Yountville, at Amazon and at her Etsy site (ChristineReneeArt365).

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