Two Tales of Chatty Animals

Two short children's tales featuring animals that can communicate with human observers.

The first of the two tales, 'Mrs. Fox up in a Tree', begins with a surprised human asking Mrs. Fox why she is up in a tree. The resulting exchange between these two characters expands from the fox's reasonable response into a revelation of close-up elements within a fox family's life.

The second tale, 'Jesse and the Talkative Takin', introduces Jesse, a student who has a free day to spend as she wishes.  Jesse decides to visit one of her favorite places, the zoo.  Once there, with her normal interest and curiosity, she goes about observing zoo residents. That normalcy is unexpectedly unsettled by a rather brave and assertive young takin. The takin wants to talk with Jesse and descends from its pasture into a dry moat to get closer for conversation. The resulting talk session grows from polite introductions to the takin's optimistic outlook regarding reintroduction to the wild, and ultimately, into reinforcement of Jesse's zoo-centered career objectives.

Bob is a septuagenarian, retired career civil servant, military veteran, and a life-long naturalist and photographer. After retiring from government service, Bob has dedicated his free time to guiding and teaching his grandchildren, and other children, how to observe, understand, and appreciate the science and the related wonders of plant and animal life that surrounds us. His advocacy for nurturing discovery , awareness and sound conservation of subjects in nature extends beyond the participation of immediate family members. For example, he used his photographic and teaching skills to create a detailed, narrated slide-show program on backyard butterfly raising and butterfly life cycles. During a period spanning thirteen years, and before becoming handicapped by Parkinson's Disease, he presented his backyard butterfly slide-show program to third grade and fourth grade classes at elementary schools in his community.