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Critter River
By Carol Wilder, Avery Liell-Kok AuthorHouse LLC
Copyright © 2014 Carol Wilder
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4969-0083-8
CHAPTER 1
"Hey, kids! My name is Bubba Buzzard, and I live at Critter River. You've probably seen Critter River, but you might not have seen me and my friends. Critter River is not very far from you. You know that river that's not too far from where you live? Well, that's Critter River. But it's kind of a secret place. If you want to see the River Critters, you have to find a place to sit close to the river, and then you have to be very still. You see, we are kind of invisible—oh, River Critters are there all the time, but you can't see them unless you sit very still (or unless one of the River Critters invites you to his house).
"River Critters are very smart and very careful. They watch the people who visit Critter River and only come out when they are sure the people are kind and nice. You know when you run through the woods or go running to the river and jump in, making a loud splashing noise? Well, the River Critters hide. That's why they are invisible: they are really right beside you, but you aren't able to see them.
"If you could meet the River Critters, you would like them—and you wouldn't believe what they can do!
"Hey! I've got a great idea! How about if I invite you to my house? Then I could introduce you to all the River Critters, and you could see what I'm talking about. You'll have to be very quiet at first, just until they get to know you. Can you be very quiet? Well, okay, let's go!
"Wait a minute ... I can't take all of you the first time, because the River Critters would never come out. I know! I'll take one of you this time, and you can see how we do it.
"What's your name? Tyler Luke? That's too long; that will never do. I'll call you TyLu. Come on, TyLu, you come with me. You'll have to stay very close to me and walk very softly. Maybe we'd better practice our walk first. Pretend you are walking on a bunch of eggs all laid out on the ground. Wait a minute! You are walking too hard. Oh my, this will never do. Look what happened: all the eggs are crushed. Try it again, TyLu—very softly. Okay, that's better. Now practice some more while we walk, because we want to get there before dark. After dark, we can see you, but you can't see us.
"We'll follow the trail that Dorothy Deer made. She worked very hard to make this trail so all the River Critters would have a nice road for winter when the rains come and for the summer when the grass grows over our heads.
"Oh my! I forgot. We need to cross the river to get to my house. Okay, look for a log about your size, and I'll show you how to do it. That's perfect, TyLu. Now put one of your legs across the log and sit down. You'll have to use your hands as paddles because the log won't move by itself. River Critters all learn how to cross the river. Some go across like you, and others go across using the highway above your head. See where the tree branches cross the river and meet? Watch out for the squirrels, though, because they think they own that highway. Okay, where was I? Oh yes, TyLu, start paddling now. We're going across to that old hollowed-out tree. That's my house.
"Okay, TyLu, careful now. Use the knots on the tree to climb up. I'll be right beside you if you should fall. Okay, we're at the top now. Have a seat, and I'll show you around Critter River. See how tall my house is? I am one of the Critter River guards. I send out a signal when someone is coming. Since all the River Critters speak differently, we have several guards, and we send out different signals so all the River Critters can understand us.
"I'll bet you are hungry, TyLu. Let me get us a snack, and then I'll show you where everyone lives." Just then, Bubba Buzzard flies over to the nearest tree and pulls grapes from the vine. He places the grapes in his neckpack and flies back to sit beside TyLu. While munching on grapes, Bubba Buzzard begins to describe the homes of Critter River and the names of the local River Critters.
"First," says Bubba Buzzard, "there's O'Kelly Kingfisher. He's an early bird. He wakes up when the sun comes up and works all morning from one end of Critter River to the other. He brings us news from our neighbors on the next river. He knows everybody's business and is quick to run and tell on everyone. But sometimes he talks too much and tells things he shouldn't. Sometimes we have to check his stories to make sure they are true. O'Kelly Kingfisher lives in the big mulberry tree on Deer Trail.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Critter River by Carol Wilder, Avery Liell-Kok. Copyright © 2014 Carol Wilder. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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