The Monster in the Birch Trees
A Child’s Relationship with Nature
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Today, as I walk on this hiking trail, my mind drifts back in time to when I was a little girl and the times I would spend with my grandfather (Pop). Pop was very important to me. He introduced me to hiking, to love all animals and to appreciate nature with all its beauty and wonder. Pop respected even the smallest of animals, he thought everyone and everything deserved to live. Pop would not even kill a snail or a spider. Pop would talk to everything in nature and say “Good morning Mr. Crow!” and “Hello tree!”, he would shout out happily. As I continue to walk I drift into a daydream. In this daydream I am transported back in time to my childhood, a time when Pop shared a secret with me about his special ability. “Tell me Pop, tell me! What is it?” I asked impatiently. “Dear Maya, patience is a virtue,” Pop chuckled. “I have had this ability since the Second World War, many, many years ago ...
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About the Book
The Monster in the Birch Trees is about the importance of grandparents in the lives of grandchildren. This book tells a story of a little girl named Maya and her experience with her grandfather. Her grandfather (Pop) is a great storyteller and a wonderful role model for Maya. Maya’s pop is the one person who introduced her to the great outdoors because he loved nature, animals, and telling old legends while walking in the woods. This story is set in the magical place of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
About the Author
Joanne O’Leary is a post-secondary educator / administrator and was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada where she resides with her husband Glenn, son Matthew, and grand-daughter, Maya. She brings her passion for life , self-empowerment, personal leadership development and her love of nature to her writing. Her grandfather Lloyd Horwood introduced Joanne to all things nature and she now enjoys shorter hikes and longer treks on the East Coast Trail in order to feel closer to him and to get in touch with her true self. With over 30 years working and studying in higher education, Joanne experienced a repetitive strain injury resulting in nerve damage to arms. She now uses assistive technology to operate a computer and dictate the text for this book.