Hello, I would like to thank ‘Authors’ Lounge,’ for the invitation to highlight my new children’s book: Stikki the Squirrel, by Jane H Wood, featuring my own illustrations.
A charming animal fiction story for children aged 7 years and upwards.
I am thrilled to say that Stikki the Squirrel has won a silver, Reader Ready, ‘Recommended Read’ Award, in Author Shout’s Book Contest 2024.
What is the book about?
Synopsis in brief:
‘We must always be wary of the longlegs for they are unpredictable and puzzling.’
This light-hearted story is set in the gardens of a small town in the heart of Wales and tells the tale of three young grey squirrels, and their adventures in the big wide world.
Mischievous and a little reckless, Stikki manages to get himself into scrapes at almost every turn. When Stikki and his sisters, Mollie and Tia, venture out of their familiar surroundings for the first time, life changes dramatically for our little explorers. There are dangers, spills and thrills—and good friends to be made along the way, in this exciting adventure that tests family bonds to the limit.
A whimsical, humorous, heartfelt story of friendship, bravery and love for each other.
The story carries a subtle message of the importance of protecting wildlife and the habitat they need so desperately for their survival.
Here are a few books that are comparable with, Stikki the Squirrel: Watership Down, Black Beauty, Look For Me Under The Rainbow, by Bernard Jan, and the Farthing Wood books, by Colin Dann.
What inspired you to write the book?
I am a keen environmentalist and animal rights advocate, concerned for the welfare of wildlife and farmed animals globally. I actively encourage wildlife into our garden, including the controversial grey squirrel: being as important as any other creature because I believe they have their place in nature.
There is no denying that all wildlife needs a helping hand, especially to get them through the chilly winter months. It’s important to keep the squirrels’ seed/nut box replenished with food to help them survive the worst of the winter season. We as a family, love to observe our squirrel visitors: their inquisitive natures, acrobatic nimbleness, and their quick problem-solving to get that nut, never ceases to both amaze and delight us.
Or watch them scale the nearby birdfeeder to steal seeds, then hang upside down by their hind feet, whilst eating their prize. Over the years we have grown to love our grey squirrels and it is their fun, happy-go-lucky attitude, and their adaptability to survive in a changing world, that inspired me to write: Stikki the Squirrel.
What do you hope readers could get out of your book?
Well of course, I hope all age groups will enjoy reading about Stikki the Squirrel and his mad dash to find adventure. He is most definitely a fun read: I can vouch for this as I could not stop chuckling as I created the characters along with the story.
No seriously, this is an enchanting story that middle grade readers to young-at-heart-adults will enjoy reading—as the lovely reviews Stikki the Squirrel has received testify.
Lessons learned from reading Stikki. Well, sibling rivalry and how to get along for one, responsibility and caring for others as well as yourself are important too. Also, understanding the value of friendships, and knowing when to be brave and when to be cautious, not only for your own safety, but family and friends as well.
What are your future goals/plans for the book?
Stikki the Squirrel is the first illustrated book for younger children that I have written. It is possible that there may be more Stikki books to follow. My mind is full of ideas so I will ponder those and see which one develops into a viable story.
About myself.
My name is Jane Wood. I am married with two grown-up sons and live with my husband in West Sussex, England.
During my childhood, words and story books fascinated me. I was a proper bookworm, with my head always stuck in a book. I’m sure my parents wondered if one day I would write a book. But being a child, I had no thoughts or desires of becoming a writer when I grew up. In fact, I didn’t start writing until I was in my sixties.
Over the past ten years I have written a collection of short stories for children: a few have some colourful illustrations to accompany them. So I will consider if one could be made into a nice little children’s book. Another storyline I am contemplating is a historical, part fiction, part factual story. I’ll need to do a bit of research before I start writing.
Besides my love of reading and writing, I try to make time to enjoy various hobbies, like art, photography, experimenting with vegan recipes, and my new craft interest, Quilling.
With climate change influencing our weather patterns: soaring temperatures, drought, torrential rainfall etc, it is vital that we act together now if we are to combat the worst effects of global warming. It will determine our future and that of animals, both wild and domesticated. A world without animals is no world at all.
In 2015, my focus centred on North American history: specifically, the indiscriminate killing of wolves. For centuries wolves have suffered persecution, killed by misguided men who underestimated the important role wolves play in sustaining a balanced ecosystem. The plight of wolves endures, crying out for public awareness.
Compelled to highlight this topic, I began my story about a special wolf with golden ears and his deep friendship with a teenage boy. A fictional story with myths and legends, became my motivation for my debut novel: GoldenEars: The Whispering Mountain, published in April 2019.
GoldenEars: The Pale Skulls, continued the story and was published two years later.
Both my GoldenEars books have won a silver, Reader Ready, ‘Recommended Read’ Award, in Author Shout’s Book Contest 2022.
To Grab some copy of my book, you can visit my websites: Mybook.to & Instagram.
Stikki is a lovely little book, complete with cute illustrations. I bought the book for my nephew’s children and ended up reading it myself and loving it.