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The Children’s Book Review | April 4, 2019
Written by Mark Glover Masterson
Illustrated by Monica Elder
Age Range: 4+Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Self-Published (2019)
ISBN-13: 978-1-9990731-1-4
What to expect: Birds, Rhyme, Friendship, and Self-Acceptance
The Light in Cy is a rhyming picture book that explores the concept of self- acceptance. One small, gray-colored bird goes in search of friendship but unexpectedly discovers the joy and light he holds within himself.
Cy is a bird that lives all alone in a tree, while plenty of brightly colored birds flock together in the tree right next to his. Feeling alone, Cy pulls out all kinds of stops to impress his neighbors. He puts on a puppet show, makes music, and reads a fun book but his delightful efforts go unrewarded with the colorful and unfriendly birds. Feeling deflated, Cy decides to go on a journey in which he has a chance meeting with a seagull and also discovers a symbolic strand of glowing lights—owl lights. His new seagull friend helps him carry the strand of gorgeous lights back to his tree and Cy realizes that he has his own special kind of light that shines from within.
Inspired by a string of plastic light birds that author Mark Glover Masterson found on Pender Island in British Columbia (as well as The Beatles’ song And Your Bird Can Sing), this rhyming picture book has come together charmingly. Monica Elder’s illustrations are satisfyingly appealing with their soft textures and mixture of bright and subdued hues—they even glow at times. The vibrant patterns of the colorful birds pop from the pages.
This is a sweet story that is well suited for a quiet and snuggly reading session.
For more information or to order a copy, visit: www.thelightincy.com (Press play when you’re there to listen to a sweet song.)
About the Author
An award-winning factual and narrative filmmaker with a penchant for lush jazz and visual silliness, Mark Glover Masterson has cinema and storytelling running through his veins. Being the child of a kindergarten teacher while growing up in Ottawa, Canada, Mark was surrounded by kid’s picture books. His inspirations within the genre include Tomi Ungerer, Ezra Jack Keats, Gene Zion, Jon Klassen and Dr Seuss. Mark is a Master of Arts degree student in Global Film & Television and holds an Associate degree in Broadcasting. His debut doc film, Big Band Boom!, was produced for Bravo and NFB Canada, and features a then unknown singer named Michael Bublé in his first national TV appearance. The Light In Cy is Mark’s debut children’s picture book as an author.
About the Illustrator
A multifaceted visual artist based out of Vancouver, Canada, Monica Elder was born and raised in Northern Ontario. She picked up her creative skills at a very young age, being mentored and encouraged by her mother. Nowadays, Monica’s major influences and inspirations come from artists such as Quentin Blake and Michael Martchenko. She uses a combination of traditional paintings and digital media techniques to achieve her own style, as used in her most recent children’s picture book – The Light in Cy.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of “The Light in Cy,” by Mark Glover Masterson. Learn more about getting a book review …