Tales From Farlandia Pants On Fire Press Category:  Children Publisher: Pants On Fire Press ISBN-10:  0982727194 Type: Fiction Pages: 112 Copyright: 2013 ISBN-13: 9780982727195 Like Alice in her journey to Wonderland, Ozette, a white squirrel, is thrust into the world of Farlandia, clutching a golden acorn that will lead her to her destiny. With characters as innocent as Winnie the Pooh and as in depth as the rabbits of Watership Down, Ozette discovers that fulfilling her destiny is a journey, not a destination.  Ozette, a rare and beautiful white squirrel, must flee Earth World when she is wrongly blamed for the destruction of their sacred forest simply because she is different. Clutching only a golden acorn, which was gifted to her by her beloved grandmother, Ozette escapes to Farlandia, a magical kingdom where her grandmother has said the young squirrel will find her destiny. With innate innocence and sweetness, Ozette quickly forms close friendships with the residents of Farlandia including zany elves, fairies and animals, and soon finds herself tapped to be the caretaker of this old-growth forest. Forging strong alliances through the challenges of life, Ozette and her magical friends will have you laughing and crying as you follow them through adventures that will warm your heart with gentle lessons of kindness, loyalty and self acceptance.       Excerpt If you're lucky enough to slip through the thin veil that separates Earth World from the magical kingdoms, you might encounter Farland, a vast territory of lakes, babbling streams, rolling meadows, mountains and gentle forests ruled by Queen Beatrix. It's an enchanting land filled with fairies, elves, a wise and kind princess, and animals living extraordinary lives. It’s also a land of unexplored adventures and magical moments. And if you venture to the far western corner of Farland, you’ll find the most exquisite jewel in the territory: an old-growth forest called Farlandia, a lush woodland rich with giant hardwoods, evergreens, fern groves and swift-flowing streams lined with lush moss banks. And if you look high up to the top of the tallest ancient maple tree, you will find a unique squirrel named Ozette. When she first arrived, no one in the forest had ever seen a squirrel like her, for her coat was a bright white, except for a small splash of gray on her forehead and a hint of pale gray down the center of her back. Ozette had appeared in Farlandia three full-moon cycles ago during the mild winter and claimed the stately maple tree for her home. Although shy at first, she quickly became a favorite among the fairies, elves and other woodland creatures because of her kindness, loyalty and fun-loving nature. She was a gracious and generous hostess, and it wasn't unusual to see friends gathering under her tree to sip tea and chat before their afternoon naps. Though most of the time she chattered away happily and fussed over her friends, she sometimes had a sad, faraway look in her dark eyes when she thought no one was looking. But her friends were reluctant to pry into Ozette's past, thinking it may be impolite, so never asked too many questions.

Awesome Story Teller
Judy Pierce is an awesome Story Teller in the old oral tradition. The Ozette Tales, like Aesop's Fables, Native American legends, or the Uncle Remus stories are written as if spoken around a campfire. Not unlike Brer Rabbit, Ozette finds herself in trouble only to wiggle back out with the help of her Farlandian friends. Judy has found a way to impart morals and life lessons without a heavy hand, so that the stories are fun adventures. But make no mistake, the lessons about caring for each other and friendships are there. I look forward to each new installment of Ozette's Adventures. Jude McDonald, Wyoming

Charm and Imagination
I've been following the adventures of Ozette, the amazing White Squirrel who is the main character in Judy Pierce's charming stories, for almost two years. The charm and imagination shown in the stories never cease to amaze me. Ozette is surrounded by creatures, large and small, some transported from the Real World and some, completely imaginary. They intertwine and interact, then sail off on adventures of their own, taking you with them, sometimes by the most amazing means. Each story has its lessons, its laughs and sometimes, its tears. Each story leaves the reader waiting anxiously for more. I plan to buy several of the books as they are published, to donate to local libraries so children in this area, and their parents will know the enjoyment these stories always provide. Barbara Foulds, Missouri

Bedtime Stories
The stories are inspiring. They lend a "magic" to life lessons. My grandchildren and I enjoy the Ozette stories above all other bedtime stories. The children LEARN from the deeds" and adventures. Thank you so very much for sharing with us the Ozette stories. Connie Monk Griffith, Texas