Shae Smith

The Critters of Walnut Creek Shae Smith

On a small farm in Georgia called Walnut Creek, lives a gentle caretaker named Fred who has the unique ability to understand and talk with the critters who reside there. A picture book for children, The Critters of Walnut Creek shares three stories of Fred, the farm, and the animals. The first tale tells of Penelope, a pot-bellied pig with a broken leg abandoned on the side of the road by her cruel owner. Fred and Pretty Girl, the spaniel, find Penelope and take her to Doctor Sheba, the timber wolf, who fixes her leg. The critters welcome Penelope to the farm and help her heal. Penelope learns to be strong and never give up. The second chapter shares how Bailey, the firefly, gets lost in the deep, dark woods on a stormy night. Her adventure ends at a birthday party for Vester, the cat, where all the critters discover that what makes a gift special is the love and thought behind it. Finally, "The Beauty Contest" narrates the story of Oda, a tiny kitten, who enters the Miss Critter Contest and discovers the true meaning of beauty and love.