About This Book

Stumpy gives birth to her babies in a pin oak tree in Gooseberry Park. But when a chilling ice storm destroys the tree, Stumpy must find a new home for her family. One day she suddenly disappears, and her babies are left in the care of friends: Kona, the Labrador retriever, Gwendolyn, the hermit crab, and Murray, the bat. The friends then launch a search effort to find Stumpy. Will she ever be found? Will her babies ever have a home to call their own?

This heartwarming story reinforces the importance of family and close friends, and illustrator Howard's use of soft watercolors portrays the earth-toned beauty of the characters and their Gooseberry home. Cynthia Rylant's tale is a heartwarming addition to any home or classroom.

About the Authors or Illustrators

Cynthia Rylant

Award-winning children's author Cynthia Rylant didn't discover great writing until college. Soon after, she was inspired to write her own beautiful story, When I Was Young in the Mountains.

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