About the Author

Rosemarie Anna Ferrer

"Long, long, ago..."

As a school library media specialist, Rosemarie Anna Ferrer found that each time she spoke those three little words, her K-5 story room transformed into an enchanting place.

Expectancy shone on the childrens faces and the room filled with quiet excitement.

Students especially loved the "tell-me-why tales" that shined a light on nature and animals.

As they enjoyed the thrill of the tales'adventures, the children identified with their heroes and heroines. They discovered the characters'many hidden strengths, strengths they never knew they had until they were called upon to use them.

Rosemarie decided to create original "tell-me-why tales" which reflect the woodland town in which she grew up.

She still lives in a small town filled with beautiful woods where she enjoys caring for her flower garden (whose resident mole has become another "tell-me-why tale" character), walking at the shore, spending holidays with her family, and writing nature tales for children.

About the Illustrator

Emiko Sunayama

Five books! Rosemarie and I have created five books together so far.
I live in Japan, but through illustrating them I learned so much about North American nature.

For example, I discovered that dandelions in the U.S. have longer stems than those in Japan, and I was fascinated by the beautiful, jingling sound of the spring peepers' chorus. Finding both the similarities and differences was truly interesting.

Whenever I opened each book, I felt as if I were there, listening to the conversations of small animals and flowers.

That is Rosemarie’s magic.

I hope you, too, will be inspired by the nature around you and let your imagination wander.