Journey to West Shore — Carole La Flamme Beighey

My husband died the day after Christmas, leaving four children, ages two to nine. Anxious how we would manage without him, too young to understand, my children asked, "Why my daddy?" While vacationing at my brother's lake cabin, in Michigan's Northern Wood, we watched a mother raccoon and her babies feeding daily at the stump outside our kitchen window when the idea came to write my stories through the eyes of animals. The first book in The Waddodles of Hollow Lake series, Law of the Woodland, is built on family values, tales of courage, love, hope and trust in each other. The second series book, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake: Calamity on East Bay features more exciting adventures with The Waddodles and their friends, highlighting many episodes with their enemies. Journey to the West Shore finds the family sad about leaving their den, but excited about their new adventure. Harriet teaches the triplets their first fishing lesson and tells them about the new hollow. Finally, she reveals they'll live near humans, The Lawrence Family, which worries them. She reassures her children they are kind to raccoons, even feeding them at The Stump. On their way, the Waddodles journey through the Pine Forest; the mysterious Cedar Swamp; The Grassy Meadow. They're thrilled with their magnificent oak tree home. Ted names their home, The Mighty Oak. The boys love the loft, which even has a porch where they can view Theodore's Pine across the lake. The family visits 'The Shack', meets the human Lawrence's, and enjoys a Celebration Feast at The Stump. The happy family beds down, looking forward to their first day in their new home, and meeting their interesting new neighbors.