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Monday, August 15, 2016

Why Paul Bunyan in Yosemite? The Adventures of a Jr Ranger

Who has not heard of Paul Bunyan?  The truth is MILLIONS!!  With a major connection to immigrants here in the U.S. I have come across the majority (Like 99.9%) who have no idea of this major part of U.S. culture.  The same goes with John Henry and almost all the other U.S. Folklore.  

The story of Paul Bunyan has been told, over and over, in the exact same way.  I for one, am a huge fan, ever since I was a child.  I was always sad how people treated him, in the end.  He just went off alone, to the west.  Some say Alaska, others say Washington or Oregon, but as the decades have past, I decided to reintroduce him in the High Sierras of California.  Not that he has always been there, but as a place he was assigned by modern government in order to keep him close and safe.

"Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite" is my idea of how to continue his story and legacy.  I was already working on the National Park Series as "The Adventures of a Jr. Ranger" until it dawned on me that if the story is fiction, set on experiences and feelings I had as a child, I needed to include folklore as well.  Especially as a way to keep U.S. folklore alive with the major influx of immigrants and new Citizens today.  I figured it would also add excitement to an already great adventure.   

In this book, Paul Bunyan does not have his ax in hand constantly.  He does not even use it the way he did decades ago, paving a way through the forests for the Pioneers.  He does still have his blue ox Babe, who has gone missing in the beginning of the story.  Found after witnesses film him ramming into the Hetch Hetchy dam.  I wonder why?

National Park Series Book #1


During the series, John Henry is the adoptive father of Lucy and Lucas Fern, grandchildren of John Henry's wife Talitha Fern.  They begin in Yosemite and travel to the different National Parks, including the Grand Canyon, Zions and Capital Reef, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland, Snowdonia National Park in Great Britain, Elk Island in Russia, Thousand Islands in Canada and more.  All including local Folklore making friends with our own.  One great big team on a special mission uniting the world and much more

Lucy and Lucy Fern are my own creations,  children who have been gifted with the task of uniting the folk heroes and who each has a special connection to Nature unlike any that has ever been seen in the history of the World.  Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Johnny Appleseed, and many more folk heroes, will solve the mysteries of the Earth and it's inhabitants, who (the majority) have lost almost all interest.  

It has been an awesome experience, writing this story and working with many different children and friends and family, to bring it to life.  I have already met children who love the first two books The tiny Life of Lucas Fern and Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite.  

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite introduces Paul Jr. the son of Paul Bunyan and also son of the Giant Princess Bébinn from Ireland, who lives under the protection of the Celtic government near Wicklow Mountains National Park.  Leading towards a plot that bring our family and team to Ireland and other parts of Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, South America,  and more.    

Paul Bunyan and the others will follow the Fern's in their quest to bring healing and hope to our Amazing Planet, and home.  

It is educational, amusing, reflective and fun.  I hope all who read it, enjoy it.  And if you encounter errors, please let me know in order for me to correct them.