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April Without Spring

by Violet E. Rawlings; Illustrated by Patricia Rawlings and Marina McSherry

26 pages; Saddle stitched; illustrated; catalogue #06-1871; ISBN 1-4251-0114-3; US$12.77, C$14.69, EUR10.49, £7.35

What happens when Mother Nature takes away Spring to teach children a lesson? A very long Winter, that's what. Can Jack-in-the-Pulpit and the children change Mother Nature's mind?

About the Book

Mother Nature, upset by the children’s lack of care while playing in the forest, takes Spring away, leaving April alone with Jack Frost and North Wind. Without Spring, the forest becomes colder, and April can no longer keep Willow, Bubbling Brook, Red Squirrel, the Hepaticas and all the forest creatures awake.

Soon the children, Emily, Logan and Dylan, return to play in the wintry forest. Little Emily stumbles and falls into Jack in the Pulpit, who yells in surprise. When Jack realizes Emily can hear him, he explains that Mother Nature has taken away Spring and tells the children why.

The children promise to do better. They put out their campfire and begin to clean up their garbage.

Jack in the Pulpit waits for Mother Nature to return. As it becomes colder and colder only April and Jack in the Pulpit manage to stay awake. When Mother Nature finally appears, Jack in the Pulpit explains what has happened and what the children have done.

The children return and not only promise Mother Nature they will do better, but promise to learn and show others how important it is to look after the planet. Mother Nature agrees to bring back Spring, but because not all humans are ready to communicate with plants and forest creatures, she casts a spell on the children to make them forget. Only when they enter the forest will they remember how they can talk with their forest friends.

Everyone celebrates as Spring re-appears and begins to re-awaken the forest.

About the Author

April Without Spring has been adapted from a children's musical play I wrote for my own children when they were young. I have written magazine articles, book reviews and jacket blurbs for covers of many romance novels. This is my first venture into a book for children.

Excerpts