Pinky, A Girl-Power Hero

Despite decades of advances in the woman's movement, there are some who still believe that girls are weaker or less smart than boys of the same age. Children's author and illustrator MJ Daley-Prado saw a need for a strong, young, female character and Pinky fits the bill.

This empowering story is geared for audiences aged 4 to 9 and will also appeal to older children. My four-year-old daughter and six-year-old son loved it! Pinky is well on her way to becoming a bedtime favorite in our household.

Pinky packs a wallop; both in the boxing ring and in the book's wonderful message. She isn't afraid to do things her way; i.e., streaking her blonde hair or concealing her identity in the championship match. Don't think of calling her a tomboy, as Pinky isn't happy to copy the boys - she sets out to beat them. Ignoring her Mom and Coaches' warnings, Pinky enters the State Boxing tournament to compete against the guys! Will she win? Can she overcome the doubters and gain the crowd's support? You'll have to pick up a copy to find out.

Pinky's message is clear and Prado's beautiful illustrations keep even the youngest reader's interest peaked. Prado is the author of six children's books, including Grandma, What Is Cancer?

I highly recommend Pinky for early readers looking for a girl-power hero. Pinky K. Henderson is a heroine who will entertain children and charm adults alike.

MJ Daley-Prado lives in Maryland with her teenage daughter. Daley-Prado writes stories that she hopes will help children and families during difficult times.

Daley-Prado donates 50% of the royalties from the sale of Grandma, What Is Cancer? to The Johns Hopkins Breast Center in Baltimore, Maryland and to The Dream Foundation in Santa Barbara, California, in memory of her mother, Shirley A. Daley, and her sister, Shirley A. Danlag, who both lost their lives to cancer.

MJ Daley-Prado

William Potter attempted his first novel at age eleven when he scribbled a few lines about a giant rampaging crab. The teen years kept his imagination in a state of unrest and he used poetry to journal personal thoughts, achievements and events of those times. He returned to his love of storytelling in his twenties, writing numerous short stories; and now in his forties, has completed two full-length novel manuscripts. Lighting the Dark Side-Six Modern Tales represents his work from the past several years and is his first published book. The collection received the Editor's Choice Award for short stories from AllBooks Review International in 2009. William resides in New Westminster, Canada with his wife and two children.