Books – Astrella Art Design

The Lucky Pioneer …is a novel written and illustrated by Mark Astrella published in 2024.

Travel with Lucky Harrington across the country as it was in the 1840s, from Massachusetts to the Mississippi River and over the Oregon Trail to California. Gunfights, wild animals, natives and buffalo encounters, shooting contests, saloons, gamblers and cheap whiskey are around every corner culminating in the California gold rush. Lessons of life, love and death are filtered through the eyes and mind of a young man on a dangerous journey.

Lucky recorded his thoughts and sketched images in his journal of what he experienced during the trip and then many years later, he elaborates and relives his adventures. His memoirs detail the historical figures he met along the way which included renowned gunsmiths, professors, writers, native chiefs, famous pioneers of the day and even a president. All of them pale in comparison to meeting Mika, his Native American love.

Historical facts mix with fiction but based on actual events. The artwork alone will draw you into the past and let you experience the wild days of the opening of the west. AVAILABLE ON AMAZON NOW!

Click here for the PAPERBACK

Click here for the EBOOK

This book includes hundreds of unique illustrations that serve to tell the fantastic adventures of Charles “Lucky” Harrington. Experience life as it was in the early west of the 1840s.

HELLO OCEAN

A children’s picture book about the 5 senses. A young girl explores the beach and discovers the magic of the ocean.

M. Thompson. 5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful illustration

I bought this for my 2-year old boy who had all of the sudden developed a deep fear of the ocean and pools, and we had a trip planned to San Diego that we didn’t want to cancel. I thought this might help ease his fears. He absolutely loves looking at the pictures. It’s quite soothing and depicts the sounds, smells, etc. very well.

O’s Mommy. 5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous pictures and descriptive adjectives

I originally bought this book as a teaching tool for writing. Then, my daughter was born. She has loved this book from a young age! It has beautiful pictures!!! We read the paperback version so much that a couple of the pages fell out. I ordered it in hardback so that we can read it for years to come!

CVGmom. 5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Illustrations

The gorgeous illustrations are what really made me give this book 5 stars. The rhyming text is unique and interesting, using vocabulary that will enrich and expand your lexicon. We read this book to my son for a few weeks before our first trip to the beach, and I think it helped to prepare him for what he would experience there.

S. Hughes. 5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful illustrations and beautiful writing

This book uses the five senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) to wonderfully describe the ocean. Not only is it beautifully written, but the illustrations are amazing – making you feel as if you’re standing on the beach yourself. My 2 1/2 year old loves this book and asks me to read it to him over and over again. After borrowing this book from the library, we’ve decided to purchase our own copy.

Fran. 5.0 out of 5 stars Hello Ocean

The illustrations look so real! The illustrator did a fabulous job and the author wrote very descriptive words for the ocean. I can’t wait to share this book with my students.

Children’s Lit Love. 5.0 out of 5 stars Stunningly written and beautifully illustrated beach book

Do you know the book Hello Ocean by Pam Muñoz Ryan, illustrated by Mark Astrella? If not, you should! Ryan’s writing and Astrella’s paintings make this an absolute winner for both teachers and parents. We received Hello Ocean as a gift when our oldest was born, and it’s still a favorite in our house six years later.
Let’s start with the illustrations, because they are absolutely stunning. Using acrylics, Astrella fills every single space with vibrant, eye-catching color. He has captured so many of the rich details of a day at the beach so well that these images, at times, almost feel like photographs. And, be sure to check out the sunset this family sees as they leave the beach. Can we please all go there now?

The BUTTERFLY ALPHABET BOOK