When you spend enough time watching the woods, you start to notice how easily we all fall into the trap of thinking we have everything figured out. We build our routines, we settle into our habits, and pretty soon we are completely convinced we know how the whole world works.
I was thinking about that exact human tendency a while back when the idea for my next children’s book, Wise Old Owl, started taking shape.
In the story, our main character is an owl who governs the forest because everyone looks to him as the resident expert. Animals hike all the way to his tree just to ask where the sun goes at night or why the leaves fall. And to his credit, he has all the answers. He knows the mechanics of nature inside and out. He feels secure in his role and proud of his deep well of knowledge.
But wisdom is a funny thing. Sometimes knowing a lot about how the physical world works can trick us into thinking we also understand the hearts and lives of everyone around us.
That is where things get interesting in the forest. One day, the owl encounters something unfamiliar beyond the trees, labels it a terrifying beast, and immediately starts sounding the alarm to protect his friends. He is completely convinced he is doing the right thing. He is ready to throw rocks and drive the danger away.
Only, as it turns out, he missed a few crucial details because he never actually stopped to talk to anyone first.
Writing this story was such a gentle reminder for my own heart. How often do we rush to judgment before we slow down to listen? How often do we let fear or assumptions guide our actions instead of curiosity and grace?
Bringing these forest creatures to life on the page has been such a joy. From Wise Owl and his bustling tree to the gentle mother deer and a misunderstood giant named Whisper, these characters taught me just as much while I was writing them as I hope they teach little readers when the book finally releases on January 4th.
We have a lot of fun behind-the-scenes peeks, artwork reveals, and free reading resources coming down the path over the next couple of months as we lead up to launch day. I am so glad you are here walking this journey with me.
What is a time when you realized something you assumed about a person or a situation turned out to be completely different than you thought?
Leave a comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts.
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