Lockport girl features in new children's book

Lockport’s Hanna Willard, 9, will grace the pages of a new children’s book “Mia’s Magic Book.”

The book tells the tale of Mia, a mouse, who receives a magic book for her birthday and makes a wish to talk. After her wish comes true, the reader is transported into the world of Mousetropolis and learns the importance of thinking before you act.

Hanna was selected to be photographed for the book by a family friend, Andre Gorzynski of Buffalo, who shot and edited all the pictures for the book.

“I read it and I loved it,” said Hanna. “I would think a lot of kids would enjoy it. I loved it and I’m a kid.”

Hanna, a third-grader at Royalton Hartland Elementary School can’t wait for the book to be published so she can show her class.

“The class is excited to read it,” she said.

“Mia’s Magic Book” includes more than a dozen pictures of Hanna and pictures of Mia and her friend Monique.

Hanna has several pictures throughout the book that she likes, here favorite is the birthday scene.

“I love cheetah print, I love cheesecake and I love that picture of Mia,” she said of the picture that shows Mia the mouse blowing out a candle of her cheesecake, with cheetah print presents surrounding her.

Hanna enjoyed the photo shoot for the book, getting to play with the mice.

“They’re really cute and fluffy,” she said. “I just don’t like when they poop.”

The story of “Mia’s Magic Book” came from the imagination of Amherst author Tatiana Elis.

“When I was a child I played the piano and a little mouse came and listened,” said Elis.

She said when she told people of this memory, they would often comment, “it is so cute.” That is how the idea of the book began and soon her imagination created the story and world of “Mia’s Magic Book.”

Elis said her book is good for a variety of different ages. She said children starting out with enjoy it because it can help them with their imagination and she believes it is an “inspiring” story.

“Everyone will enjoy it,” said Elis.

She said even adults would get a “kick out of it” because there are little things and names that are humorous.

In the book Mia learns from her mistakes and becomes a better “person.”

“It teachers responsibility, to be a loyal friend and to be considerate,” said Elis. “It teachers children to think before you do something, other wise there are consequences. Other wise you’re not the only one affected by it.”

Both Elis and Gorzynski have big plans for the book, which is the first one in a series. Elis hopes to create an entire series about Mia and the mice of Mousetropolis.



“I think it’ll be great,” she said. “There isn’t anything like this on the market.”

“Mia’s Magic Book” will go to print at the end of June. To purchase a book/ make a donation or for more information visit mousetropolis.net.