Daisy Goes to the Races (The Daisy Starshine Series)

Daisy Goes to the Races is the first book in my series of author-illustrated, Daisy Starshine middle grade/chapter books. Daisy, a young, orphaned, and disabled donkey, often dreams of becoming a unicorn as her way of coping with her self-perceived inadequacies. She loves that her eight-year-old best friend, Clarissa, has created a glittery silver horn for her to wear. But when Daisy starts working at a local race track, she is crushed that the other animals and grounds workers tease her for it. She’s even more hurt when the race horses she admires reject her because of her small stature and the leg brace she wears. When an angry employee sets fire to the stables that house her and the other animals, Daisy discovers a strength she didn’t know she had, saves the day, and finally discovers the happiness that comes from accepting herself as she is.As a father, grandparent, and clinical psychologist, Mark Stevens has helped numerous children overcome the issues Daisy struggles with. Drawing from this experience, he writes about human (or animal) nature and transformation that occurs in the midst of life’s difficulties in a way that is accessible to kids. His hope is that these these stories will encourage children as they face their own struggles, discover their own unique gifts and strengths, and come to fully accept themselves for the shining stars they are.