An imaginative kid’s story in which a grown-up’s life is changed during a walk in the woods.
Walter Hoge’s philosophical early reader Easter: McEaster Valley introduces a man to a vibrant, strange world during his morning walk in the Sierra foothills. While walking with his dog, a man is drawn to enter a shining, golden passage that leads to a beautiful valley. The farther into it that he travels, the better he feels. His senses are enhanced. He is more alert. All is well until he falls, rolls down the trail, and lands in bushes. His dog is nowhere in sight.
Injured, lost, and becoming hypothermic, the man falls asleep. The following day, an aged, bearded man appears to him, saying, “We’ve been waiting for you. You have been chosen to come to our valley.” The lost man is introduced to wonders, mystery, strange science experiments—and an offer of immortality. He encounters intriguing inventions, including devices to produce heat, light, and energy without fossil fuels. He learns about the healing effects of plant-based foods and medicines; he witnesses an odd, rather disgusting way to store food; and he is introduced to a way of life marked by simplicity, peace, and cooperation.
In addition to following the lost man’s adventures, the book pronounces life lessons. This includes how getting lost can bring a person where they were meant to be; that there is much more to life than money and possessions; and that, if honored, one’s dreams and aspirations can lead to accomplishments that benefit the whole world. While not advocating for any religion, the book mentions the Christian God as the creator who made Earth a place for joy and learning.
As man discovers all the planet has to offer, he maintains his curiosity. Indeed, the text and the illustrations indicate that this is crucial: the lost man’s open-mindedness is credited with his ability to draw knowledge from his fun. Although it is written from the viewpoint of an adult, the narrative and its lessons remain accessible to its target audience. Its lead character models a thoughtful, nonjudgmental attitude toward all he sees, acceptance that adventures often come with hardships, and thankfulness for the kindness he encounters. He also manifests care and concern for his family when faced with a hard choice, leading to a bittersweet conclusion to his adventures.
What The Readers Are Saying
“Hoge’s writing is easy to follow, and the descriptions are done well without being excessive. Because of its length and often highly technical phrasing, it is difficult to determine the book’s exact audience. Passages such as “Thoughts of line breeding, cross-breeding, and inbreeding flowed through my mind, and I could only imagine the genetic combinations along with the viral components that could produce such an array of eggs” may prove to be too much for younger readers or listeners. Still, parents can use the story and illustrations as the framework for spinning their yarn about this magical place, adding more of the technical text as their children mature and are capable of discussions. Additionally, it gives them another story option to share when focusing on the more whimsical parts of Easter.” – book review by Mark Heisey.
“The prose is heavy on descriptions and light on concrete exchanges. Though active, it moves quickly to deliver its bevy of scientific facts, imaginative solutions to pressing global problems, and unusual perspectives. This leads to messy ideas at times. Further impeding the book are its malapropisms, missing words, and punctuation errors. Still, the illustrations are expressive and bright, with innovative features and eye-catching colors.” – Kristine Morris.
Author Bio
Walter Hoge received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Purdue University before practicing small animal veterinary medicine at Camden Pet Hospital. Published in several scientific journals, Easter: McEaster Valley, a children’s book by Walter Hoge, is his first book. He lives in San Jose, California, and is a proud father to five grown children and seventeen grandchildren.
According to Walter R. Hoge, “Dreams and aspirations in our lives are often the catalysts that lead to great accomplishments that benefit the world in which we live.”
To know more about Walter R. Hoge, check out his website. You can also purchase his book online.
