Dappled Annie and the Tigrish by Mary McCallum

She knows there is something wrong when her father doesn't come on time.  He's the lighthouse caretaker but he never misses his time with her and her family.  She's too small to do much about it, but she goes to talk to the trees and bushes in the hedge about it.  Maybe they can help.

Gecko Press and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

This is a modern day fairytale and it's a delightful story.  Annie and her little brother, Robbie, are quite a team.

When her mother asks her to play with Robbie outside so she can do some painting inside, she takes him down to meet her friends in the hedge.  When a big wind comes up, the bird nest in the trees is blown away!  They've never had any birds come to harm in their branches and they're bound and determined to get them back.  Robbie is willing to help; he's very good at finding things.  (He also eats a lot of what he finds...)

What Annie finds is a "tigrish".  It's a little bit like a real tiger and a little bit like a spirit but it's real enough for her to ride it.  Robbie joins her and they take off to find the nest.

It's quite the adventure with nice trees and shrubs, wicked ones, a bit of magic, and a whole lot of excitement.  I enjoyed the tale, the characters and the pace of the writing.  Ms. McCallum does a good job of telling the tale.