As the middle child in a family of nine children, I have seven brothers and one sister. I know my parents took great pride in instilling in us morals and values to guide us through life. As a result, my husband and I have raised two fine children, planting in them the same values and principles.

For fifteen years, I drove a school bus, and for the past twenty-eight years, I have worked in my hometown grocery Store. I live on a graveled, dead-end road in the country, where I have experienced and encountered the wildlife I write about in this book. I enjoy watching and participating in many sports. I am an avid hunter and fisherman. While relishing everything about the great outdoors, I have gained a deep respect for and love of all animals, both wild and domesticated.     I have a great love of children and want to make the world a better place for them. It is my desire that through each story in this book I will educate children for those times when they encounter situations similar to those confronted by the animals in this book, and it will help them to act in an honorable manner.

Each chapter has a moral — a lesson — which I hope will guide the children in making wise and ethical decisions on their journeys through life.

Pad the Beaver, Fin the Fish and Musky the Muskrat all resided near or in the pond. Cheek the Chipmunk inhabited a big old butternut tree not far from the pond. Their adventures and those of other animal friends that lived on Oxbow Lane never seemed to end.

I welcome you to Tails of the Kingdom Critters and hope you enjoy your journey through its pages!

Angela M. Allard

Irasburg, Vermont