New Picture Book 2018

Oh my gosh... It is raining picture books!

Another book is under construction!

            

WICKY

Illustrated by Angela Powell

Clear Fork Media

2018

            Meet Wicky, an energetic Flicker, who is cleared for flight and ready to make a beeline right into the minds of young readers. Much to the dismay of his Brother and Sis, Wicky’s enthusiasm creates havoc as the family sets out in search of a bigger nest home in the distant meadow. 

      Wicky practices his best flicker flight, a cuh, cuh, cool flap-flap glide, as he slides alongside a butterfly, hovers with a dragonfly and comes dangerously close to a feline streak in the fence line brambles. While coming to his rescue, Mama’s wing catches a wire, and she plunges down into the vines. “Hurt,” says Mama in a weakened voice.

      Now, Wicky, Brother, and Sis must work together to care for Mama. Turns are taken to gather cheeks chock-full of ants. But, it is Wicky who brings the most healing treats to his Mama, a daily puzzle of I spy clues. These clues, along with Wicky’s exuberant guidance, hurry Mama’s recovery. Soon she is ready to travel and eager to solve Wicky’s I spy puzzle. This high-spirited adventure is rich with humor, mystery, and enduring family love.

      The story of Wicky and Mama’s hurt wing emerged as I recovered from my own broken shoulder, which affectionately became know as my “broken wing”. Like Wicky, my recovery was hastened due to the same exuberant care of my family. Daily, they brought me reports of the wonderful outside world. Wicky is the embodiment of that “zest for life” that is so essential to survival right alongside crunchy ants, that is, if you are a flicker.

Gran, Gran, Granny - Rae's Fall 2017 Picture Book

Exciting times for one very special tree, our Granny tree.

A new picture book is on the way. 

Announcing: GRAN, GRAN, GRANNY

Illustrated by Eric Groff

Clear Fork Media
Fall 2017

                                     Party today, far away …

         Sam finds a great deal to sing about as he echoes "the chat" on the way to visit a majestic forest friend in GRAN, GRAN, GRANNY. Lizzie tells this “moment in time" story as she, two brothers, and her parents hike up the well-worn trail to visit one grand old Douglas fir tree known as Granny on her annual measuring day. The forest is aflame with fall color and the path is carpeted with fall leaf confetti on the day following a fierce and worrisome storm. A celebration cake swings along in mom's traveling basket as Lizzie, Nick and Sam lead the way. As the story unfolds, readers will make the discovery that Granny is not a granny in the normal sense of that beloved word.

         The inspiration for this tale comes from years of family hikes up the trails in a hilly and forested watershed near our home in northwest Washington. One particular tree, Granny, has stolen our hearts and given us cause for celebration on our weekly hikes. Once a year we measure her girth with a string wrapped around a silvered spool of wood. The knots on our well-worn string tell us that Granny has grown. We have attempted to measure Granny’s height with helium balloons, but mostly we wonder about her time in the forest. We often meet other hikers at Granny’s stop on the trail and share forest observations. 

         The Pacific Northwest is rich with forests, and old growth trees have been a particular interest of mine. Find a nonfiction section: Fascinating Facts Of The Douglas Fir, following the story. Planting and saving trees are a topic we hear about almost every day. Granny’s tale is unique and universal at the same time. It is my hope that my story shares the love and wonder of one very special tree.