Ricci-McNamee Publishes ‘Logan and the Lost Luggage’

Lifelong East Boston resident, Christine Ricci-McNamee, published her second children’s book, Logan and the Lost Luggage, on March 16. The book, illustrated by Connecticut artist, Patrick Regan, is about Logan, a Cocker Spaniel, whose family loses their luggage at the airport on route to visit grandparents living in Florida. Logan uses the powers of his magic bone to travel around the world in search of his family’s belongings.

Logan journeys to seven countries, such as Paris, France, where he meets new animal friends, like a French Poodle, that help him solve the mystery.  The juvenile fiction picture book teaches children about diverse nations, and the importance of collaboration.

“It’s a good message,” said Ricci-McNamee, who is an American Poetry Association Poet of Merit, winner of the Boston Public Library Scholar’s Award, and recipient of the Presidential Arts Scholarship in Creative Writing at Salem State University, her alma mater. “It teaches them geography, and to learn to work together for peace and harmony.”

Logan and the Lost Luggage was inspired by her first dog, Logan, a Cocker Spaniel that loved to sing and chase squirrels at her family’s Orient Heights home, where the reverberation of airplane engines continually resounds.  

Ricci-McNamee has entered Logan and the Lost Luggage into several competitions, and will be appearing at Whitelam Books, 610 Main Street, Reading, during Independent Bookstore Day on April 30, 1:30-2:30 P.M., for a book signing and reading.

“The tone is happy and positive. It’s a fun children’s story,” described Ricci-McNamee, who once lost her luggage for a few hours at Palermo Airport, in Sicily, Italy.

When Ricci-McNamee is not managing her family-owned business, she enjoys walking with her dog, Winston, traveling, gardening, and – what she finds most relaxing – writing, a passion of hers since she was nine-years-old. Her first children’s book, Flames of Feeling, published in 2004, features a collection of her poetry from childhood to adulthood.

“I always wanted to write books and work in publishing,” revealed Ricci-McNamee, who is excited to see her vision of Logan and the Lost Luggage come to life.

Readers can purchase Logan and the Lost Luggage locally in Winthrop at Robins Nest, and the Winthrop Book Depot, or online at www.Amazon.com or www.BarnesAndNoble.com.