WHAT IS NEW AT GENTLE CAROUSEL

 

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         Come Meet Sundance!              Books Featuring Our Horses

Frequently Asked Questions

Testimonials

Upcoming Events

Magic Selected Most Heroic Pet In America

READING IS MAGIC in Magazines, Newspapers and on Television

READING IS MAGIC in the Movies

READING IS MAGIC Horses

  Canine Movie Star Benji teams up with READING IS MAGIC

READING IS MAGIC at Schools

READING IS MAGIC at Libraries

READING IS MAGIC Authors and Illustrators

Be A READING IS MAGIC Hero How You Can Help

Links To Sponsors and Friends

Mission Statement

Wish List and Volunteer Opportunities

What's New At READING IS MAGIC

Photography Contest Winners  featuring READING IS MAGIC Horses

Elephants, Zebras and READING IS MAGIC, Oh My

Magic Horses Poem

Magical Moments Fashion Show

The Magic of Horses 2009 Fundraiser

Buy A Book, Help A Child

Home Sweet Home

Photo Memories

What Is So Special About Horses?

Becoming a Therapy Horse or READING IS MAGIC Horse

MAGIC

RAINBOW

SUNDANCE

ANGEL

   Introducing   CHAPS

MUSIC

CIRCUS

SPARKLE

FLAME

ECLIPSE

STARLIGHT

MILKY WAY

WHISTLE

FEATHER

SCOOTER

HOLLYWOOD

MOONBEAM

STARDUST

DREAMER

FIREFLY

RAIN DANCE

STORMY

PRINCESS

LACE

BLAZING STAR

SPLASH

CANDY

SUMMER

MELODY

SHADOW

HOPE

ROCKET

SILVER

MAGIC MAN'S ON DEMAND

Contact Us

Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity.

Your donations are tax deductible. Help bring books to life for children.

Gentle Carousel Inc.

P.O. Box 1672

High Springs, FL  32655

Phone: 352-226-9009

ReadingIsMagic1@gmail.com

    Magic selected Most Heroic Pet In America. See her in AARP the Magazine.

Gentle Carousel in Woman's World magazine.

Gentle Carousel was selected a charity partner in Disney's 2010 volunteer program "Give a Day. Get a Day."

 

    What an honor and thrill to have Gentle Carousel's Sundance as a riveting character in JASON AND ELIHU.-Shelley Fraser Mickle

"Your Reading Is Magic program and volunteers are heroes every time they walk into a school or library.  Using little miniature horses to inspire young children to read is most creative.  Congratulations on your wonderful charity, spirit and service to your community."

- Bill Bennett " Former Secretary of Education William J. Bennett

 

"Reading Is Magic!

Every child you inspire to read is a life forever changed. Thank you for that and for bringing books to life...

...Reading is magic. It can take you from outer space to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Either way, the journey is magical.

 ...Wow.  Love those little horses... Great job you're doing.  I'm proud of you." 

-Homer Hickam

  "To Magic and Gentle Carousel,  Thank you for all of your work.  Helping children read is the greatest magic of all,,,"

- James Gurney,

Best-selling author and illustrator of the Dinotopia book series.  Thank you for the original artwork you created for Reading Is Magic.

 

Canine movie star Benji working with Magic.

"What they are doing is just so incredible.  They are making a difference. These people are the real deal.  They are down there in the trenches doing it."

 -Joe Camp

  Film writer, producer, director, bestselling author and man behind canine superstar Benji.

"What 'Reading Is Magic' does for kids by going into schools and igniting excitement for reading a story is beyond compare.  Keep the hoofbeats going."

Carl Joseph, Author of SOME CALLED ME

"Magic and Gentle Carousel,

  Inspiring children to read is magical.You are making a difference!"

 Chris Soentpiet - Acclaimed children's book author and illustrator

Presenting a library with one of the signed posters donated by Christ Soentpiet to Reading Is Magic.

Reading Is Magic on television.

"...Thank you for all the work you do.

...Reading is Magic!"

- Linda Sue Park, Newbery Award winner

  

Author Jessica Burkhart and Magic.

Gentle Carousel,

...Always follow your dreams.  Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something.  Stay positive and stay strong.  You have the ability to make amazing things happen!" Love, Jessica Burkhart 

Author of the Canterwood Crest book series

"Keep up the wonderful work you do...   

Best, Jon " Jon Provost - Appeared as Timmy Martin on Lassie

Magic appearing on The Ilene Silverman Show.

 

"To Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic,

You are making magic everyday with each child you help..."

- Dianne Ochiltree

Magic with four-time Olympian and ten-time US Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year, Karen O'Connor.

Life in the Galloping Lane, O'Connor

 

Magic with  David O'Connor, president of the United States Equestrian Federation, Olympic gold medalist and Pan American Games and World Equestrian Games medalist.

"To Magic and Gentle Carousel-

 You have a wonderful program. Thank you for bringing joy to children... Keep reading! It is magic!"

-Anna Grossnickle Hines, author and illustrator of over 50 children's books.

 

"Reading Is Magic,

Thank you for helping children learn to read...

- Michael Storrings"

 

Congratulations Magic!  She was selected Most Heroic Pet in America by AARP Magazine.

A heroic pet is one that "has significantly improved or saved a life".  Ten finalists were selected from across the country by AARP Magazine as the "ten most heroic, original and inspiring" pets in America.  Magic was chosen from the finalists as the winner and Most Heroic Pet in America. 

Look for Magic in the May/June 2010  issue of AARP the Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine with over 25,000,000 subscribers.

 

Gentle Carousel has been selected as a charity partner in Disney's 2010 volunteer program "Give a Day. Get a Day." Beginning January 1, 2010, when you sign up on Disney's website to volunteer a day of service to Gentle Carousel (and your service is completed and verified) you'll get one day admission to a Walt Disney World® or Disneyland®theme park, FREE!

 

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses in Woman's World magazine.

 

 Sundance helped give away 200 copies of Jason and Elihu to children in downtown Jacksonville as part of Prevent Child Abuse America/The Ounce of Prevention Fund Florida.

  The Board of Directors of Family Support Services of North Florida donated the books.

 

Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic received the 2009 Literacy Award from the Alachua County Literacy Network (with Terri Hutchinson, Literacy Coordinator of Alachua County Library District and Gainesville mayor Pegeen Hanrahan) for Outstanding Contribution To Literacy.

 

    

Reading Is Magic at the Family Literacy Festival, Main Branch of the Alachua Library District.

 

Rainbow at the Family Literacy Festival (Gainesville Sun).

 

 Magic accepts a grant from Walmart for Reading Is Magic.

 

Thank you for your help Barnes and Noble Booksellers.

 

     "The Black Stallion"  and friends at the 2010 Branford Literacy Festival.

 

 

  

Milky Way makes new friends at The Library Partnership grand opening.

 

Gentle Carousel has been busy bringing smiles to new friends.

 

 

      Look for Sundance in the wonderful children's novel JASON AND ELIHU published by Wild Onion Press.  Wild Onion Press publishes books featuring children with various physical differences. Their philosophy is that a physical difference is not a disability; it is merely an outstanding characteristic.    

   Several photos of Sundance appear in JASON AND ELIHU.  Sundance's outgoing personality was captured by author Shelley Fraser Mickle including his love of peppermints and his talent for smiling.

Sundance will make personal appearances in 2010.  A portion of the proceeds of this book is being donated to Florida's foster care system.

What an honor and thrill to have Sundance as a riveting character in JASON AND ELIHU. 

-Shelley Fraser Mickle

READING IS MAGIC Authors

 

Some of our great volunteers at work in Ocala Magazine and Ocala Style Magazine.

 

Magic in front of a television camera at a Reading Is Magic event.

Rainbow with Sheriff Sadie Darnell.

Rainbow now has a publisher and will be featured in an upcoming children's book.

RAINBOW

 

 Early Steps Fall Festival at Metcalfe Elementary School, Gainesville.

Rainbow on television and in the newspaper at Early Steps.

 Families of children with special needs gathered at Metcalfe Elementary School on Saturday for the Family Fall Festival, hosted by Early Steps.

 

"Milky Way"  and Magic on at a Reading Is Magic event.

 

Making new friends after a Gentle Carousel program for the University of Florida Child Protection Team.

  Magic at station WOCA with "AM Ocala Live" radio hosts Larry Whitler and Robin. She stayed for the half hour Gentle Carousel interview. See more photos of Magic at the WOCA Photo Gallery.

 

Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic Program in the news.

Gentle Carousel helping children at an event with Florida Gators football players.

Joe Camp, film writer, producer, director, bestselling author and man behind the canine superstar BENJI flew from California to help Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses and Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic program. 

 

Joe Camp (with canine movie star Benji) signing videos and copies of his bestselling book The Soul Of A Horse to raise money for Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic program.

 

One of our new Reading Is Magic posters... and yes Magic really was standing with the elephant!

 

Congratulations to Jennifer Anfinsen who was nominated for a 2009 Work Of Heart Volunteer Award.  Jennifer was honored for outstanding service to Alachua County for her work with Gentle Carousel.  Jennifer and Magic are shown at a Reading Is Magic program at the Alachua County Library District Main Branch and getting makeup (below) before she appeared with Magic on The Ilene Silverman Show.

 Magic appearing on The Ilene Silverman Show.

Magic with the director and the host of The Ilene Silverman Show.

 

Over 1200 children attended Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic Programs and met "Magic" in the summer of 2009!

 

Lend a Hand

Each year Girls Horse Club adopts an organization dedicated to caring for horses and the people who love them. Gentle Carousel was chosen this year. Thank you Girls Horse Club and 'mustang23'.

 

 

 Magic and Moonbeam met many new friends at the Annual Family Fun and Safety Day sponsored by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office...and yes the police dog was bigger than Magic!

 

Magic's buddy Baxter the Cat (yes his hair is curly) is joining Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic program.

 

"Cookies With Santa" was the first of many upcoming events partnering Gentle Carousel with the University of Florida's Healthy Families program.  "Moonbeam" enjoyed some special time with Santa... our horses made Santa's "Nice List" this year.

    

 

Magic with Ronald McDonald House house director Theresa Drews. 

Professional baseball player Jon Townsend joined Gentle Carousel and signed autographs for children and families staying at the  Ronald McDonald House.

 

Gentle Carousel is proud to be a member of Alachua County Children's Alliance.

Thank you Sheriff Darnell for your support.

 

 

Magic helping out at the  High Springs Daycare Center a non-profit preschool.

 

At the Sidney Lanier School.  Sidney Lanier is a public school in the Alachua County School District that serves students with severe developmental or multiple disabilities, ages 3 to 22. 

 

Magic greeting her new friends at the grand opening of The Oaks of Lake City  Equestrian Center.

Magic enjoyed all of the attention and love from her human friends...

...and also enjoyed meeting some new equine friends. 

These Gypsy Vanners were taking part in the equestrian demonstrations planned for the event.

Even Magic had a few minutes in the spotlight, just like the big horses!

 

Gentle Carousel's READING IS MAGIC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity.

Your donations are tax deductible.

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." ~Winston Churchill