The Dancing Deer and the Foolish Hunter

Book excerpt: in this funny and original tale, storyteller and collage artist Elisa Klevin creates two unforgettable characters and sets them to match wits with each other about the nature of happiness. Deep in the forest, a silly hunter spies a deer dancing for joy. "Wowie-kazowie!" he exclaims. "A deer i can sell to the circus! Great Gumballs - my fortune is made!" So he lassos the deer and brings her home. "Okay, now dance," he commands. But the clever deer, who not only dances but talks, explains that she can't dance without hearing the sweet singing of birds. And when the hunter snares two songbirds, they won't sing without the pine trees whistling along. And so it goes until the deer's wise means of saving herself culminate in an important lesson gently delivered about the foolishness of trying to capture and isolate nature - and a much better suggestion for how to ensure the hunter's good fortune. Hearty humour, engaging dialogue, and a satisfying spiral of action playfully illustrated make this rich, inspiriting fare. Great gooseberries!