"I'm listening to the earth sing, mi'jita."
So begins the hauntingly lovely conversation between a little girl and her friend, the village elder, Don Pancho about the wonders of nature. The whimsical notes of the "songs" the earth sings will tickle the imagination, and delight children as well as adults. The implicit lesson about paying attention to our connection with nature, getting so quiet you can hear a "star's lullaby to the trees" is gently cloaked in lyrical word pictures that invoke the southwestern flavor and landcape that inspired the story.
| Some of my favorite childhood memories |
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Some of my favorite childhood memories are of walking through the woods with my family and our dog, discovering the shapes, textures, colors of rocks, cones, leaves; seeing the wind ripple the water on lakes or pushing the clouds in the sky and the different shades of sunlight; hearing the sounds of the birds, the wind in the trees, and the water rushing or gurgling in nearby streams; and taking in the rich, earthy smell of it all. Today, watching my "little sister" discover these things and go home with her pockets full of rocks, seeds, leaves and shells just like I did at that age, fills my soul all over again. I truly believe when we're connected with the natural world around us, we stay centered, focused on who we are and where we fit in the scheme of things. There's no greater joy than sharing that with a child and passing that care for the earth on to the next generation. Su Marcy Vice President, United Way of Ulster County Big Brothers Big Sisters Volunteer since 2007 |

The Isle of Makai is a whimsical tale of a grumpy, but kind King who banishes colors from his island kingdom, and how young Sophronia and her beautiful pygmy goat Tinker help the King save the children from the effects of a colorless world. ...read more

Moonbows tells of the Dragon Earth Mother's sadness when she finds out that children are afraid of the night, never go outside, and have never seen a shimmering night sky. ...read more

Where Is My Twinkle is a story about what happens when a little girl has one of those bad days and loses her happy Twinkle. ...read more