Milo and the Mustang
by
Alycin Hayes
Available in paperback worldwide wherever good books are sold
Winner of the 2020 - R. Morrow Book Award for "Great Kid Books for Road Trips"

A wild Mustang horse finds a lost little boy who has run away from home.
They develop a special bond as they travel together on a magical adventure into a mountainous wilderness where the boy, Milo finds a freedom he has never known before.
This beautifully illustrated children's book will captures both the heart and imagination of young readers. Children reading this book will identify with Milo before it is revealed that he has special needs.
Milo and The Mustang was inspired by the immediate marvelous connection a real boy named Milo Austin Olsen, who has autism and cerebral palsy had with the author's Mustang mare.
What are people saying about it:
"Wonderful whimsical story of a special needs boy and a magical horse."
"5.0 out of 5 stars Great for kiddos and adults!
"A Children's Book With Unique Beginnings
Author, Alycin Hayes gave a little boy, named Milo Austin Olsen who has severe autism and cerebral palsy riding lessons on her Mustang horse. Milo's immediate connection with her horse inspired her to write this story. Milo now a severely challenged adult chose the final cover and illustrations used in the book. The beautiful illustrations were painted by deaf artist, Beverly Marie Melton.
The font and large print of the text were chosen to make this book easier to read for children with visual problems. The art work was designed to appeal to special needs children who identify with more realistic art. The consistent layout - with the illustrations and text in the same place on each page - feels very safe to the autistic reader who craves routine.
Children who read this adventure story identify with Milo before the find out that he has special needs. Interestingly, it turns out that children often like the story even more than many adults. This could be because the ending of the story can raise questions that may be difficult for parents to answer. The best children books don't have patronizing happy endings."
Milo and the Mustang by Alycin Hayes
"Lost in the wilderness, Milo befriends a wild Mustang horse who takes him on a magical adventure that will capture your child's imagination in this beautifully illustrated children’s book.
I suspect that after reading this book children traveling by car in the countryside, will look out of their windows and imagine themselves adventuring with a wild Mustang horse.
Milo and the Mustang is a story that was inspired by a real boy named Milo who had both severe Autism and Cerebral Palsy. The author Alycin Hayes gave riding lessons to Milo, on her Mustang horse. She was impressed with the immediate connection and unique communication that Milo and her Mustang enjoyed. Children reading the story will identify with Milo before it is revealed that he has special needs.
Alycin Hayes who has dyslexia wrote the story, deaf Artist Beverly Marie Melton illustrated it and Milo Austin-Olsen who has both severe autism and cerebral palsy made the final choice of the cover and illustrations to use in the book. Milo and the Mustang has large-print so it is easier for children with vision problems to read. The illustrations and text are in the same location on each page to give the story a consistency for children with Autism."
"Lost in the wilderness, Milo befriends a wild Mustang horse who takes him on a magical adventure that will capture your child's imagination in this beautifully illustrated children’s book.
I suspect that after reading this book children traveling by car in the countryside, will look out of their windows and imagine themselves adventuring with a wild Mustang horse.
Milo and the Mustang is a story that was inspired by a real boy named Milo who had both severe Autism and Cerebral Palsy. The author Alycin Hayes gave riding lessons to Milo, on her Mustang horse. She was impressed with the immediate connection and unique communication that Milo and her Mustang enjoyed. Children reading the story will identify with Milo before it is revealed that he has special needs.
Alycin Hayes who has dyslexia wrote the story, deaf Artist Beverly Marie Melton illustrated it and Milo Austin-Olsen who has both severe autism and cerebral palsy made the final choice of the cover and illustrations to use in the book. Milo and the Mustang has large-print so it is easier for children with vision problems to read. The illustrations and text are in the same location on each page to give the story a consistency for children with Autism."