Jennifer Rain Crosby

A children's book written by Dale Pendell, published by Mercury House in 2018. This story is about a young boy who gets lost in the woods and is befriended by an unusual ally to find his way home.

"One summer Jeremy went to stay with his Aunt and Uncle, who lived in the mountains. Pine trees grew all around the wooden cabin, which was set near the top of a hill, and great moss-covered boulders poked out on the hillside. Some of the trees were hollow and some of the boulders contained hidden caves and there were paths and trails that crisscrossed through the brush."

"After Jeremy was finished looking at the pine cone, and set it down, he noticed that there was a tunnel under the brush, just big enough for Jeremy to crawl through, and on the other end of that tunnel was a patch of warm sunny grass. Jeremy thought it would be nice to climb through the tunnel and sit on the sunny grass.
And that is what he did."

"Ah," said the Mantis, "so you are not lost at all. Climb up on my back and I will walk you home."

"And that's what Jeremy did."

"The Mantis told Jeremy how some of the animals held secret council meetings in secret chambers hidden in the brush and how they decided how the world should be run."

"When Jeremy got home it wasn't even dark, and his shoes were dry, and it was still long enough before dinner that his aunt let him have a piece of the blackberry pie she baked.

And Jeremy did tell his aunt and uncle about his adventures, or some of them, and he did tell them about the praying mantis. But in Jeremy's story the mantis was so small it could ride on the back of his hand."

Written by Dale Pendell and published by
Scarlet Imprint, 2014.
I have no idea why Dale chose a rooster for the cover art. Some esoteric secret symbolism no doubt...

"SERPENT
You are so kind. And good-looking,too. And intelligent. I can tell by the look in your beautiful eyes. Some say that none of us are born with souls, that our purpose here in life is to grow one. Well, except for me. I have another idea in mind."

1. "The creature in the alembic is clearly a serpent."

2. A sunflower

3. A rabbit and a dropped book

4. "1st NEWSCASTER
But isn't pepper spray just food-stuff?

2nd NEWSCASTER
The point is that linking arms is violence.
The police have to do their job."

"WAGNER
There must be a connection.
Consider the sunflower.

SOCRATES
That only proves my point. Such is the essence of 2,
3, and 5."

Written by Robert Aitken and most recently published by
Wisdom Publications, 2017.
Story/koans with woodland characters. 10 new sumi ink brush illustrations.

2017 edition, Wisdom Publications, pg. 60.
Sumi ink brush paintings.

pg. 60 Raven perches on the Assembly Oak and
addresses the Tall Spruce group.

2017 edition, Wisdom Publications, pg.112 and 84.
Sumi ink brush paintings.

pg. 112 Black bear said, " I'm feeling frazzled after
dealing with my cubs. What if I don't feel
compassionate?"

pg. 84 Raven said, "Sit with the stones."

2017 edition, Wisdom Publications, pg. 163 and 26
Sumi ink brush paintings.

pg. 163 One fine day Mockingbird met Raven on the
Assembly Oak and asked, "Who is Raven
Roshi?"

pg. 26 One evening Grey Wolf appeared at the
Tall Spruce circle for the first time.

Written by Robert Aitken this was translated to Dutch by BZZToH, 2003.

Written by Robert Aitken and published in Swedish by Svenska Forlaget, 2003.

Written by Robert Aitken and originally published by Tuttle in 2002. Sumi ink brush illustrations of woodland animals and birds.

2002, Tuttle Publishing, pg. 36
Sumi ink brush paintings.

pg. 36 Raven bobbed his head, "Excellent! Excellent!"
Porcupine stamped her foot, "That's not an
answer!"

2002, Tuttle Publishing, pg.128
Sumi ink brush paintings.

pg. 128 ...when Wood pecker asked, "What is the Way?"