The Adventures of Onyx and The Mighty Mackinaw

Publisher: Ensign Benson Books LLC

Onyx and Hogan are ready for another adventure, but this time they aren't on a mission to save lives, they're on a mission to save Christmas! Once a year the Mighty Mackinaw becomes the Christmas Tree Ship, delivering trees to families in Chicago who might otherwise have to go without a Christmass tree. This year Onyx and Hogan are along for the ride!  But as the 240-foot Coast Guard cutter is delayed due to the thick ice of Lake Michigan, Onyx and Hogan grow concerned. And as the cold temperatures continue to drop, the families waiting at Navy Pier worry the ship might not make it. Will they have to go without a tree this Christmas? A holiday story like no other, and sure to become a family favorite.

Tyler Benson is from St. Louis, Michigan.  He has served in the United States Coast Guard for more than 18 years.  He began writing short stories about his search and rescue adventures in the Coast Guard to educate his three young daughters about what Daddy does when he goes on duty for 48 hours at a time.  He wanted his daughters to learn the importance of service to their country and helping those in need.  To help his daughters better understand his job, Tyler wrote the stories featuring his real station's morale dog, Onyx.  These stories soon evolved into a dream.  This dream would be a tribute and a way to bring recognition to all who serve or have served in the United States Coast Guard.  Tyler is still currently serving in the United States Coast Guard in Highlands, New Jersey, where he lives with his wife, Kristy, and four children.

David Geister is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based artist who specializes in historical art, picture book illustrations and landscape paintings.  He has illustrated over a dozen children's books including, The Adventures of Onyx series, B is for Battlecry, and Surviving the Hindenburg, to name a few.