The Wolf-Pup Gang

Released upon a rare, full, blue moon, is a multigenerational, children's book that explores nature, wolves, friendships, misunderstandings, the spirit of youth, and storytelling. is a story about two ten-year-old friends, Naomi and Jack, who have been neighbors since the second-grade. Their friendship takes a turn for the worse when a misunderstanding breaks their trust for one another. Meanwhile, Naomi goes on a school camping-trip with her other school friends to a well-known valley - Wolfland Valley - to learn more about the wolves for their school project. There, at the campsite, an older woman finds the school children and shares a story about a special time of when and how the wolves and the people lived together in peace in Wolfland Valley. The woman tells the children, "The elder settlers had a saying - ." But an unfortunate misunderstanding takes place, leaving the people in the village to lose their trust in the wolves. Feeling betrayed and with growing tension, the wolves find a way to use trickery to force the people from the land. While the people begin to leave the village, the woman speaks of the spirit of youth in one young boy who does all he can to restore the relationship between the wolves and the people to what it once was. Huddled around a campfire, the woman tells the school children, "But youth - your youth - is a beautiful thing. Youth is curious. It seeks the truth. This curiosity to discover the truth is how one small boy, named Noah, brought back peace and harmony to Wolfland Valley. The returned to both the people and the wolves of this Valley." It's true that old tales can heal wounded friendships. For the two friends in this story, Naomi and Jack, this is exactly what happens. Though not everyone will experience a wolf encounter at a sanctuary or in the great outdoors, everyone experience nature 'close to home' in the spirit of story. Spend a little time learning about the birds, the squirrels, or the four legged furry friends at home. The animals, too, have a story they'd tell if they could about what they ate, where they slept, or who or what they encountered. Can you figure out an animal's story? When you have that story, experience storytelling with a friend!