When best friends Sammy Squirrel and Rodney Raccoon decide to explore the world beyond their home of Stanley Park in Vancouver, an adventure is what they are after and it is certainly what they get. Swept out to sea in a little boat, the woodland creatures embark on an unexpected journey to a mysterious new land. Their courage and ingenuity tested every step of the way, Sammy and Rodney are introduced to exciting new friends like Salty Seagull, Winifred Whale and a shy deer called Shika, who takes them to her home in the new land where they help resolve a crisis they never expected to encounter.

When best friends Sammy Squirrel and Rodney Raccoon decide to explore the world beyond Vancouver's Stanley Park, they are carried on a fantastic adventure. Swept out to sea in a little boat, the woodland creatures journey across the Pacific Ocean all the way to Japan. While their courage and ingenuity are tested at every turn, Sammy and Rodney are met by good fortune and are helped by new friends Salty Seagull, Winifred Whale and a deer called Shika. The wide-eyed travelers help resolve a crisis with the deer in Nara, Japan and by the time they return safely home, have broadened their world and gained a deeper understanding of animal and human interactions. The story of Sammy Squirrel and Rodney Raccoon, though a fictional animal adventure, addresses real-life issues about relationships between animals and people. An illustrated chapter book, and first in the Stanley Park Tales series, it promotes awareness and sensitivity to the needs of others. Stanley Park is a hugely popular locale, famous for its natural beauty and urban proximity. Rowing across oceans is a topical theme, resulting in the connecting of cultures, Duane Lawrence s writing highlights the interconnectedness of life, the sensitivity of living creatures and the value of kindness.

Duane Lawrence was born in Princeton, British Columbia. He is a high-school teacher who has lived and taught in London, England and Nara, Japan (which is in a parklike setting with hundreds of tame deer).

The author, who now lives in Vancouver, enjoys walking in the city's Stanley Park and on one such stroll was inspired to write about animals living there.

The author speaks French and Japanese and is available for interviews and events.

See Duane's work at: www.duanelawrence.ca