Mia and Nattie: One Great Team!

By: Marlene M. Bell
Illustrated by: Grace Sandford
Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing
Publication Date: October 2020
ISBN: 978-0999539446
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: February 25, 2020

When a tiny little lamb is born early, and her mother can't take care of her, what will happen to the newborn? Will Mia, the young girl who helps her grandmother on the farm be able to save the lamb?

Mia is a young girl who loves helping her grandma on the farm. She enjoys taking care of all the sheep, but especially the lambs. One day, when she finds a newborn lamb who has been abandoned by her mother, Mia needs to investigate. The lamb's mother had no milk for her baby and wasn't able to take care of her. But soon Mia realizes that the tiny lamb is very small and will need special care. She scoops up the lamb and lavishes the baby with love.

Mia quickly brings the lamb, who she has named Nattie, into the house. She finds a perfect spot for the lamb in the laundry room, dries her off with a towel and gives her more loving and cuddles. Looking over the new baby, Mia notes that Nattie's mouth is a bit crooked, her legs are shorter than a typical lamb's and one of her horns is straight, instead of being curved like the other lambs' horns. But in Mia's eyes, Nattie is perfect. The bond between the two is set in motion and they become best friends, with Mia feeling a sense of calm and well-being whenever Nattie is around.

While Mia was convinced that Nattie was the most perfect little lamb she'd ever seen, the lamb never caught up to the growth of the other lambs. By the time she was a full-grown ewe, she was still too small to be kept with the rest of the flock. Mia's grandmother wanted to sell Nattie to a neighbor but Mia, who deeply loved little Nattie, wanted to keep her. If she could only find a job that Nattie could do so Grandma wouldn't sell the ewe...

The story of Nattie is based on a true story of Natalie, a Dorset lamb that the author found in her barn during a late-night barn check. Like the fictional Nattie, the real Natalie was small and couldn't be kept with the other babies. This children's book, however, takes a delightful turn when Mia is drawn to the little lamb, finding perfection in the animal's unique appearance and size. Their bond is a joy to read about, and Mia's insistence that she find a job for Nattie is a nice lesson for children - that every animal (or person) has a special talent. Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! is a sweet story that will appeal to both animal lovers as well as those who simply like a feel-good story before bedtime.

Quill says: Mia and Nattie make a wonderful team that "ewe" will love getting to know in their charming new story Mia and Nattie: One Great Team!

For more information on Mia and Nattie, please visit the author's website at: www.marlenembell.com