The Adventures of Zaney

Zaney, a tiger cub with a loud voice, is totally invisible to all except his mother, HONEY. With his invisibility, Zaney struggles to do all the things little tigers growing up want to do. His dance moves can't be seen. He can't be seen while riding a bicycle, and his song voice appears to be coming out of a speaker. But, as he grows, he also has adventures and successes-- most importantly, using his invisibility to help a female tiger cub escape from the zoo. His friends, grandchildren of the author, quickly learn to love and protect Zaney, and to help him become visible and famous. But it is Boots, the escapee, who teaches him to become visible through acts of kindness and love. But, as she says, we will make mistakes; but as we walk together, we will make fewer and fewer mistakes. The story ends with a party. But getting there is just a lot of fun. This book is for you to read to your children and grandchildren. Have them draw pictures of Zaney as they see him -- or Boots as they imagine her. And then tell the child that their pictures of Zaney are even better than the pictures in the book.

Zaney, a tiger cub with a loud voice, is totally invisible to all except for his mother, HONEY. With his invisibility, Zaney struggles to do all the things little tigers growing up want to do. His dance moves can't be seen. He can't be seen while riding a bicycle, and his song voice appears to be coming out of a speaker. But, as he grows, he also has adventures and successes-- most importantly, using his invisibility to help a female tiger cub escape from the zoo. His friends, grandchildren of the author, quickly learn to love and protect Zaney, and to help him become visible and famous. But it is Boots, the escapee, who teaches him to become visible through acts of kindness and love. But, as she says, we will make mistakes; but as we walk together, we will make fewer and fewer mistakes. The story ends with a party. But getting there is just a lot of fun. This book is for you to read to your children and grandchildren. Have them draw pictures of Zaney as they see him -- or Boots as they imagine her. And then tell the child that their pictures of Zaney are even better than the pictures in the book.

Dick Bennett (Grandpa) has never written a book before. Sheltered at home during the coronavirus pandemic, Grandpa decided to entertain his two 7 year old granddaughters with tales of an invisible tiger cub. Soon Zaney became real and the topic of many face times and zoom meetings. How could Caroline and Ella help Zaney? What were the moves in the TAIL UP dance? How do we get rid of Chief Lion? But then, of course, after each chapter was received by email, the girls discovered "plot holes" and Grandpa had to change the manuscript. Have fun reading this story to your children and grandchildren. If they wish, have them draw a new Zaney or Boots or HONEY. Or maybe a drawing of candy running down Main Street in Animal Town or Tux on Zaney's back. After the drawings have messed up the art table, and the book has been read, give your child a big hug and tell them that their picture of Zaney is great.