Charles Bear and the Mystery of the Forest

"You have a most intriguing character. I like his sense of humor." A letter from Margaret Frith, then Co-Editor, Children's, GP Putnam, asking if I would consider illustrating Putnam's "Early Readers and Arithmetic Books" ~ after first installment in Animals Magazine, January, 1975. "The longest book in the West in which animals talk only to each other." Walter Lorraine, the Editor, Houghton Mifflin. The illustrations were inspired by "my" First Farm. The cabin ~ similiar to that in the book, by look and "feel" ~ "came" by surprise, later, there, on a neighboring parcel that we added. "Destructions" foretold in the book, portentous, also came. Now part of the emerging Animal Character Series, Charles Bear will be seen along with PepperRabbit, Oscar Walrus, and their 27 + Animal Friends. For the various books as they come to mind "interweave" the characters! I was surprised when a mother told me her 8 year old daughter read the book 5 times in one week. I had sought to "draw" my book. Too many words came in, I believe. Now am publishing the book as Charles Bear and the Mystery of Sedona. By the author - illustrator, Douglas Adamson