Molly and the Magic Suitcase Heads to Peru

CARMEL, Ind. - March 31, 2014 - PRLog -- Molly and the Magic Suitcase (http://www.MollyandtheMagicSuitcase.com) announces the release of Molly and Michael's fourth illustrated adventure, Molly Goes to Peru. This is the fourth in a series of children’s books that focuses on travel, geography, food and culture.

“Food, family, and friends spark curiosity in Molly,” explains Chris Oler, who wrote and co-created the book series, "or in this case, a county fair." Molly and Michael encounter llamas at a local fair and want to know more about them. They use the magic suitcase to travel to Peru and encounter a new friend, Cayetana. She shows them around Lima and later other parts of Peru including Maccu Piccu, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon, and the city of Arequipa.

"This book was a new challenge," says Amy Houston Oler, illustrator and co-creator of Molly and the Magic Suitcase. "There were difficult illustrations, but we also had trouble limiting the information."

Chris and Amy interview contributors who are either from the destinations or traveled there. "In this case, it we had great information on many, many parts of Peruvian culture and had to leave much of it in our notebooks," adds Chris.

Past destinations of the series included Rome, Barcelona, and Thailand. What made Peru special? The team says Maccu Piccu is one reason. "It is like few other sites in the world," but it is also how Peru is a blend of cultures and that is reflected in food, music and dance.

Molly Goes to Peru depicts all of these elements. "The idea behind the series is introducing children to new cultures," Amy says. "It's also fun, we want kids to learn without realizing it."

The research content they weren't able to use will likely show up in the blog found on MollyandtheMagicSuitcase.com. This particular book had more contributors than any of the past titles. "We get to learn too!" Chris adds. "It's part of what makes developing the books fun."

Two more illustrated books are scheduled for 2014 along with another chapter book mystery to follow up The Shield of Horatius (www.shieldofhoratius.com). The next chapter book is set in Barcelona.