Junah Tales: Secret of the Garden: Fables for a Healthy Happy Life (Volume 1) by M. R. Neer

Description

Winner of Silver Medal in Reader’s Favorite Award Contest, Children’s Fables category

Junah Cat Discovers the Way of PURR-fection

PURR-poseful Junah Cat is urged to find the Secret of the Garden by the mysterious three sisters. He teams with Mo Mouse to explore obvious and hidden things in the garden. They are helped in their adventure by Thomas Tortoise, Hannah Hummingbird, Harry Hedgehog, and Ralph Rabbit.

PURR-sistent Along the way, Junah discovers insights or “purrs” that help to make life healthy and happy. These are based on laws of nature experienced in the garden, such as when night sounds create a symphony for him, he realizes “the whole is more than the sum of the parts.” Or when the bee and butterfly describe the delight of visiting flowers for nectar, Junah knows that he can “enjoy and accomplish more.”

PURR-sonal and PURR-petual Junah uses his curiosity to become a wise cat who has much to share with humans about living in tune with nature. The ultimate secret, revealed at the end, is an experience that can be shared by animals, humans, and all of nature.

These stories are a great way to teach natural, holistic values to children. The detailed illustrations will help them imagine what’s happening in the garden. Insights from these fables will also help all of us re-connect to nature and enjoy life in a healthier and happier way.

Junah Tales offers animal stories like Aesop did but now with life lessons that are modern, universal, and wellness-oriented. Like other classic fables, each fable is a story within a larger story — in this case of Junah’s heroic quest to find the secret of the garden. The fables are written for 5th grade (age 10) and up, although younger kids may enjoy having the fables read to them.